Hawk and Dove Stress Response Profiles in Humans

Abstract

A recent evolutionary theory hypothesizes that there are two primary biobehavioral profiles of stress responding. Labeled "hawk" and "dove," each is characterized by divergent patterns of autonomic nervous system and neuroendocrine system activations in response to stress as well as distinct affective and behavioral tendencies. These profiles are prominent in a number of species, and it has been hypothesized that hawk-like and dovelike responses to stress may, in part, explain variability in stress-related health outcomes. This study is a preliminary investigation of hawk and dove biobehavioral profiles in humans. Participants included 73 Midwestern university students recruited from undergraduate-level psychology classes. Upon completion of a stressor task, participants answered questions regarding their psychological experiences during and immediately following the task and reported their emotions and health-related behaviors over the past several weeks. Physiological measures of cortisol and high frequency heart rate variability reactivity were used to identify relatively hawk-like and dove-like responders. Associations between patterns of physiological responding and emotional and behavioral responses were tested. The results showed mixed support for the existence of hawk and dove biobehavioral profiles in humans.