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Light, puberty, and aggression: A proximal mechanism hypothesis

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Abstract

Rapidly accumulating evidence indicates that light reduces the human pineal's inhibitory effect on the gonads. Artificially extended daily photoperiods, by allowing increased production of gonadal steroids, have probably accentuated the secular growth trend and may be causing males, especially adolescents and young adults, to have an overready hormonal response to situations which elicit aggressive behavior.

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  1. Department of Anthropology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts

    John Hartung

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The author thanks George M. Vaughan, Harry J. Lynch, Mark D. Altschule, Edmund M. Dewan, Solomon H. Katz, George Adelman, John Ott, and Melvin J. Konner for much needed encouragement and edification. Thanks also to Heide Duda and Wesley Taoka (Countway Library, reference desk, Harvard Medical School) for gracious help on so many occasions.

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Hartung, J. Light, puberty, and aggression: A proximal mechanism hypothesis. Hum Ecol 6, 273–297 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00889027

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