--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Testosterone makes people cocky…" description: "\"“Testosterone makes people cocky, egocentric, and narcissistic.”\" — Robert M. Sapolsky" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f2a/robert-m-sapolsky-1166_cocky_testosterone-makes-people-cocky-egocentr_2730367.png" --- # Testosterone makes people cocky, egocentric, and… ![“Testosterone makes people cocky, egocentric, and narcissistic.” quote by Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f2a/robert-m-sapolsky-1166_cocky_testosterone-makes-people-cocky-egocentr_2730367.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f2a/robert-m-sapolsky-1166_cocky_testosterone-makes-people-cocky-egocentr_2730367.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f2a/robert-m-sapolsky-1166_cocky_testosterone-makes-people-cocky-egocentr_2730367.png) > ““Testosterone makes people cocky, egocentric, and narcissistic.”” [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Testosterone can inflate confidence and self‑importance, leading to arrogance and narcissism. **In simple terms:** Hormone boosts ego and selfishness. Key Takeaway Beware overconfidence driven by biology. Themes biology ego confidence arrogance Mood cautious analytical Type scientific psychological When to use this quote - leadership decisions - team dynamics - personal relationships Key Concepts neuroendocrinology social behavior Questions to Reflect On - How does testosterone influence decision making? - Can self‑awareness mitigate its negative effects? A Different Perspective Hormone effects vary by context and environment. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cocky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cocky/) [Cocky Egocentric](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cocky-egocentric-2949225/) [Egocentric Narcissistic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/egocentric-narcissistic-2484562/) [Narcissistic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/narcissistic/) [Testosterone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/testosterone/) [Testosterone Makes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/testosterone-makes-442597/) ## Related quotes > [“So testosterone does subtle things to behavior. Nonetheless, this doesn’t tell us much because everything can be interpreted every which way. Testosterone increases anxiety—you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/so-testosterone-does-subtle-things-to-behavior-nonetheless-this-doesn/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [Sometimes people say, 'Walter, you are egocentric or narcissistic.' No matter how much money it costs, I always say, 'You have to be radiant.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-mercado/sometimes-people-say-walter-you-are-egocentric-or-narcissistic-no/) [Walter Mercado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-mercado/) > [Testosterone makes you completely out of control, but that's okay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jen-kirkman/testosterone-makes-you-completely-out-of-control-but-that-s-okay/) [Jen Kirkman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jen-kirkman/) > [“Patriotism is the narcissism of countries.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/patriotism-is-the-narcissism-of-countries/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [“In a typical study, higher testosterone levels would be observed in those male prisoners with higher rates of aggression. But being aggressive stimulates testosterone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/in-a-typical-study-higher-testosterone-levels-would-be-observed-in/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [“The explains why basal levels of testosterone have little to do with subsequent aggression, and why increases in testosterone due to puberty, sexual stimulation,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/the-explains-why-basal-levels-of-testosterone-have-little-to-do-with/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [“Two complications illustrate some endocrine principles.fn16 Estrogen contributes to maternal aggression. But estrogen can also reduce aggression and enhance empathy and emotional recognition. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/two-complications-illustrate-some-endocrine-principles-fn16-estrogen/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [“In our world riddled with male violence, the problem isn’t that testosterone can increase levels of aggression. The problem is the frequency with which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/in-our-world-riddled-with-male-violence-the-problem-isn-t-that/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [“Thus, shorter refractory periods mean a higher rate of action potentials. So is testosterone causing action potentials in these neurons? No. It’s causing them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/thus-shorter-refractory-periods-mean-a-higher-rate-of-action/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [It's probably even the case that if you stoked up some Buddhist monks with tons of testosterone, they'd become wildly competitive as to who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/it-s-probably-even-the-case-that-if-you-stoked-up-some-buddhist-monks/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [“This context dependency means that rather than causing X, testosterone amplifies the power of something else to cause X.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/this-context-dependency-means-that-rather-than-causing-x-testosterone/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [Importantly, rather than promoting aggression, testosterone promotes whatever is needed to maintain status when challenged.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/importantly-rather-than-promoting-aggression-testosterone-promotes/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [“testosterone’s actions are contingent and amplifying, exacerbating preexisting tendencies toward aggression rather than creating aggression out of thin air.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/testosterone-s-actions-are-contingent-and-amplifying-exacerbating/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [Hormones influencing the sensitivity of the person to environmental stimuli.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/hormones-influencing-the-sensitivity-of-the-person-to-environmental/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [Individual differences in testosterone level predict very little about differences in aggression.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/individual-differences-in-testosterone-level-predict-very-little/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) ## More by Robert M. Sapolsky > [“Secure-attachment 7Rs show more generosity than average. Thus 7R has something to do with generosity—but its effect is entirely context dependent.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/secure-attachment-7rs-show-more-generosity-than-average-thus-7r-has/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [But if you get chronically, psychosocially stressed, you're going to compromise your health. So, essentially, we've evolved to be smart enough to make ourselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/but-if-you-get-chronically-psychosocially-stressed-you-re-going-to/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [“Finally, for the same criminal conviction, the more stereotypically Af-rican a black individual’s facial features, the longer the sentence.15 In contrast, juries view black…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/finally-for-the-same-criminal-conviction-the-more-stereotypically-af/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [“So testosterone does subtle things to behavior. Nonetheless, this doesn’t tell us much because everything can be interpreted every which way. Testosterone increases anxiety—you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/so-testosterone-does-subtle-things-to-behavior-nonetheless-this-doesn/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [“pain makes aggressive people more aggressive, while doing the opposite to unaggressive individuals.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/pain-makes-aggressive-people-more-aggressive-while-doing-the-opposite/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [“Thus, for our purposes, genes aren’t about inevitability. Instead they’re about context-dependent tendencies, propensities, potentials, and vulnerabilities. All embedded in the fabric of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/thus-for-our-purposes-genes-aren-t-about-inevitability-instead-they/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [“If we accept that there will always be sides, it’s a nontrivial to-do list item to always be on the side of angels. Distrust…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/if-we-accept-that-there-will-always-be-sides-it-s-a-nontrivial-to-do/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [“In other words, the more genomically complex the organism, the larger the percentage of the genome devoted to gene regulation by the environment.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/in-other-words-the-more-genomically-complex-the-organism-the-larger/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [“The subject of one experiment is a rat that receives mild electric shocks (roughly equivalent to the static shock you might get from scuffing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/the-subject-of-one-experiment-is-a-rat-that-receives-mild-electric/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [“No brain region is an island, and the formation of circuits connecting far-flung brain regions is crucial—how else can the frontal cortex use its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/no-brain-region-is-an-island-and-the-formation-of-circuits-connecting/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [“We process emotionally salient information more rapidly and automatically, but with less accuracy. Frontal function—working memory, impulse control, executive decision making, risk assessment, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/we-process-emotionally-salient-information-more-rapidly-and/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [“Most broadly, the PFC chooses between conflicting options—Coke or Pepsi; blurting out what you really think or restraining yourself; pulling the trigger or not.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/most-broadly-the-pfc-chooses-between-conflicting-options-coke-or/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [“One stretch of the gene is repeated a variable number of times, and the version with seven repeats (the “7R” form) produces a receptor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/one-stretch-of-the-gene-is-repeated-a-variable-number-of-times-and/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [“some people always get more than their share of equality than others”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/some-people-always-get-more-than-their-share-of-equality-than-others/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [It's probably even the case that if you stoked up some Buddhist monks with tons of testosterone, they'd become wildly competitive as to who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/it-s-probably-even-the-case-that-if-you-stoked-up-some-buddhist-monks/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) [Explore all 280 Robert M. Sapolsky quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) ## More Cocky quotes > [“I like seeing sexy chicks whoop the cocky off guys like Turner.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-m-stunich/i-like-seeing-sexy-chicks-whoop-the-cocky-off-guys-like-turner/) [C.M. Stunich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-m-stunich/) > [You want to remain hungry and stay in a good place as a competitor; at the same time, you want to be confident but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lamar-odom/you-want-to-remain-hungry-and-stay-in-a-good-place-as-a-competitor-at/) [Lamar Odom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lamar-odom/) > [Before, when I was 19-0, I was undefeated and I was 23, 24 years old. Yeah, I was cocky, I had a little bit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diego-sanchez/before-when-i-was-19-0-i-was-undefeated-and-i-was-23-24-years-old/) [Diego Sanchez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diego-sanchez/) > [She say I'm cocky, I say that's not me. She call me papi and I say ven aqui.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meek-mill/she-say-i-m-cocky-i-say-that-s-not-me-she-call-me-papi-and-i-say-ven/) [Meek Mill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meek-mill/) > [I don't know how to fix a car. If the car breaks down, and the gas tank does not say "E", I'm screwed. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/i-don-t-know-how-to-fix-a-car-if-the-car-breaks-down-and-the-gas-tank/) [Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/) > [Haters call me 'gay,' but their girlfriends want me more than them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-bieber/haters-call-me-gay-but-their-girlfriends-want-me-more-than-them/) [Justin Bieber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-bieber/) > [I hope I don't come off as being cocky.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bebe-zahara-benet/i-hope-i-don-t-come-off-as-being-cocky/) [BeBe Zahara Benet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bebe-zahara-benet/) > [If yuu lyk wat yuu see thn y don yuu tke a picture,,, it'll last longr???](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-evans/if-yuu-lyk-wat-yuu-see-thn-y-don-yuu-tke-a-picture-it-ll-last-longr/) [Carolyn Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-evans/) > [And then the industry itself was so cocky about what they were doing that they weren't seeing what was coming on the horizon with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-maraniss/and-then-the-industry-itself-was-so-cocky-about-what-they-were-doing/) [David Maraniss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-maraniss/) > [I'm COCKY and I know it.!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-lopez/i-m-cocky-and-i-know-it/) [Michelle Lopez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-lopez/) > [“As cocky as this sounds, I knew I could walk onto that campus and get a date with the nearest available girl. Probably even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-lynn/as-cocky-as-this-sounds-i-knew-i-could-walk-onto-that-campus-and-get/) [J. Lynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-lynn/) > [I'd rather be cocky than insecure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-d-rather-be-cocky-than-insecure/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The thing about people from Chicago and the Northwest suburbs is that they're very cocky. I think that serves us well in the show…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-chandrasekhar/the-thing-about-people-from-chicago-and-the-northwest-suburbs-is-that/) [Jay Chandrasekhar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-chandrasekhar/) > [Me: Breathe if you find me attractive Entire human race: \*dies from lack of oxygen\*](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jazmin-thomason/me-breathe-if-you-find-me-attractive-entire-human-race-dies-from-lack/) [Jazmin Thomason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jazmin-thomason/) > [I don't mean to be cocky, but if I'm never on TV again, if I never make another dollar, I am proud. I did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mr-t/i-don-t-mean-to-be-cocky-but-if-i-m-never-on-tv-again-if-i-never-make/) [Mr. T](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mr-t/) [Browse all 536 Cocky quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cocky/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Testosterone makes people cocky, egocentric, and narcissistic.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Robert M. 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