Serotonin (5HT) is a neurotransmitter which is involved in many
behaviors. It is one of these products from the human chemical factory  we still know very little about. However, recent research connects serotonin directly to male dominant behavior in all mamals, including  humans.

Serotonin (like many other hormones such as endorphines) is a natural (i.e. produced by the body itself) drug that resembles LSD, the infamous  “flower power” drug of the late 60′s. It is a neurotransmitter, meaning  that it plays an important role in the transmissions of signals from and  to the brain. Medical science in the meantime has established that  serotonin plays in important role in various disorders – it can be used  as a smart drug for example to try and cure inactive or suicidal behavior – and physical problems, such as migraine.

Serotonin, found in many parts of the body, has immediate emotional  effects. An increase of serotonin that follows introduction of its  biological precursor into the brain generates signs of ecstasy and  euphoria.
Drugs that immitate the effects of serotonin have analogous  chemical structures and produce excitement, hallucination and agitation.  Drugs that are serotonin antagonists tend to generate feelings of depression. Psilocybin (found in certain mushrooms), used in  Yucatan for centuries to induce trance states and LSD are  serotonin-like.

Serotonin is derived from the amino acod tryptophan. By the way, it is also a constituent of many venoms, such as wasp venom and  toad venom (the latter explains why “toad licking”, as is done by  certain youth during house parties, has a certain exciting effect,  compared by many to the effects of chemical drugs like ecstasy).

The power-induced drug

So what has all this to do with male dominant behavior? Well, a lot.  Recent biochemical research has established that all male dominants in  any group (mamal or human) have high levels of serotonin. Higher than  the average male in the same group. Females have serotonin as well, but  until now there is no scientific indication of a connection between  female dominant behavior and serotonin. Take away the power position of  the dominant male and the serotonin level will decrease significantly -  reinstate the power position and the serotonine level will rise again.  It is imporrtant to understand that the male has to be a dominant male. i.e. giving power to a previously non-dominant male will do nothing for  the serotonin level, neither will for example injecting serotonin in  non-dominant males make them dominant. Although this does not fully  proof this idea, it is at least an indication that the dominance as such  had to be there before and may very well be genetically determined.

Serotonin has many functions, many of which are still unclear. However,  it is clear that one of the functions is that serotonin is a powerful  vasco-contractor, i.e. it has a strong effect on tomporarily narrowing  the vains. The most powerful and most obvious effect of temporarily  narrowing vains is the male erection. In other words, there is direct  connection (for dominant males only) between power, serotonin and sexual  activitiy (which explains why dominant mamals usually are also the most  sexually active ones). Decrease of power related activities in a
dominant male will reduce his sexual activity and sexual interest and  will make him more apathic. Again, increase the power related activity  and these problems will disappear.

From a pure biochemical point of view one can safely say that the combined effects of noradrenaline and serotonin in the dominant male  strengthens sexual activity and arousal and create the chemical  “domspace” – the rush effects described above.