Anger and agression in women: influence of sports choice and testosterone administration.

Conducted a role-playing study on anger to identify the influence of sex hormones on individual and gender differences in irritation, anger arousal, and aggression. 10 female-to-male (FMTs; mean age 27 yrs) and 6 male-to-female transsexuals (MFTs; mean age 29 yrs) were studied after 3 mo of cross-sex hormone treatment, and 27 male and female undergraduates (aged 18-35 yrs) were used as controls. Ss viewed a 35-min videotape of an individual in an aversive, physically stressful, and frustrating situation. Ss were asked to imagine being in the same situation while cardiovascular responses and intensity of moods and aggressive behavior were assessed. There was a clear effect on cardiovascular arousal and anger-related moods. There was a stronger aggressive response in the FMTs, while the MFTs had the highest overall BP values and scored lowest in aggressive response.