<p>I'm thinking about this question on biology.se: <a href="https://biology.stackexchange.com/questions/9737/do-hormones-make-men-think-of-sex">do hormones make men think of sex?</a></p>

<p>From the interview linked in the answer, I get two takeaways: a man who lost most testosterone for 4 months mentioned more humility, while a lgbt person on testosterone therapy reported more intense sexual thoughts or urges.</p>

<p>With this in mind, I'm thinking of the Christian concept of " deadly sins" and their opposite virtues. From a purely historic perceptive, I take recurring accounts of these phenomena in writing to say that these traits have existed for the last couple thousand years or more in the western world.</p>

<p><strong>Is modern science any closer to explaining the phenomena like wrath, sloth, gluttony or humility in terms of neurotransmitter, hormone, receptor mutations or other genetic mutations?</strong> </p>

<p>Here's the kind of answer I'm looking for:</p>

<p>( from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serotonin_receptor" rel="nofollow noreferrer">serotonin receptors</a> )</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Deceased suicidal and otherwise depressed patients have had more
  5-HT2A receptors than normal patients. These findings suggest that
  post-synaptic 5-HT2A overdensity is involved in the pathogenesis of
  depression.[4]</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-12-28T01:01:38.317Z
Found this related talk. It does not mention neurotransmitters however http://www.ted.com/talks/paul_piff_does_money_make_you_mean.html
Alex Stone
<neuroscience><abnormal-psychology><psychiatry><cognitive-neuroscience>
Can "7 deadly sins/virtues" be explained in terms of brain hormone level or receptor mutations?
Alex Stone
# Can "7 deadly sins/virtues" be explained in terms of brain hormone level or receptor mutations?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2013-08-14)

I'm thinking about this question on biology.se: [do hormones make men think of sex?](https://biology.stackexchange.com/questions/9737/do-hormones-make-men-think-of-sex)

From the interview linked in the answer, I get two takeaways: a man who lost most testosterone for 4 months mentioned more humility, while a lgbt person on testosterone therapy reported more intense sexual thoughts or urges.

With this in mind, I'm thinking of the Christian concept of " deadly sins" and their opposite virtues. From a purely historic perceptive, I take recurring accounts of these phenomena in writing to say that these traits have existed for the last couple thousand years or more in the western world.

**Is modern science any closer to explaining the phenomena like wrath, sloth, gluttony or humility in terms of neurotransmitter, hormone, receptor mutations or other genetic mutations?**

Here's the kind of answer I'm looking for:

( from [serotonin receptors](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serotonin_receptor) )

> Deceased suicidal and otherwise depressed patients have had more
> 5-HT2A receptors than normal patients. These findings suggest that
> post-synaptic 5-HT2A overdensity is involved in the pathogenesis of
> depression.[4]

**Tags:** neuroscience, abnormal-psychology, psychiatry, cognitive-neuroscience

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Found this related talk. It does not mention neurotransmitters however http://www.ted.com/talks/paul_piff_does_money_make_you_mean.html  

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