Suspicion fuelled by hormones

SUSPICIOUS minds are driven by testosterone, a study has found.

People are less likely to be trusting if they were exposed to high levels of the male hormone in the womb.

But they are not just good at spotting conartists and cheaters, as was previously thought.

They are universally more suspicious of everyone, no matter how honest they appear, according to the study.

Scientists from the Maison de la Recherche in Toulouse assessed pre-birth testosterone exposure by looking at the length of ring and index fingers in female volunteers. Having two digits of similar length indicates higher levels of exposure, and greater sensitivity to the hormone.

Although testosterone is a male hormone, it also circulates in women, including pregnant mothers.