Duke University and the University of Michigan performed a joint study showing that the testosterone levels of male John McCain and Bob Barr supporters plummeted after the results of the 2008 election.
Females and Obama supporters did not show a change in hormone levels.
"This is a pretty powerful result," said Duke neuroscientist Kevin LaBar. "Voters are physiologically affected by having their candidate win or lose an election."
The tests were performed on 183 college-aged men and women on election night. They each chewed a piece of gum and spit it into a sample tube when the polls closed. They provided a second sample after the results came in, and then two more in 40 minute span. The spit was later tested for hormone levels.
"Voters participate in elections both directly by casting their ballots, and vicariously because they don’t personally win or lose the election," said researcher Steven Stanton. "This makes democratic political elections highly unique dominance contests."
Did the guys wimp out because Obama won, or because they realized that Sarah Palin wouldn’t be on television as much anymore? I’ll let you be the judge.