Since the dawn of man, it has become quite clear that the human race, as a species, contains the very prominent animal instinct to fight against each other. Whether it's winning a competition, intimidating others, or simply impressing a woman, it's obvious that our species embraces its natural design to compete. However, some go to great lengths to achieve the desired dominant status. Humanity, hoping to gain the greatest “competitive advantage” and triumph in the quest to excel and stand out among peers, has attempted in every way to gain the physical prowess that its adversaries lack. The ancient Olympics even resorted to devouring whole goat testicles, while Zulu warriors quaffed grape skin infusions and the ancient Greeks consumed ground donkey hooves in hopes of acquiring such advantages (Yu-Hsuan Lee 7). These methods may seem obscene, unorthodox and taboo to today's society and although some may argue that nowadays we do not make the same efforts as our ancestors, in reality it is today's civilization that has taken performance enhancing drugs for is extreme. In modern society, steroids have essentially become the new goat testicle. By definition, an anabolic steroid is: “A group of synthetic hormones that promote protein storage and tissue growth, sometimes used by athletes to increase muscle size and strength” (The Free Dictionary). When used, steroids can increase both muscle mass and strength significantly, but with extreme consequences that cause irreparable damage to the human body. In men, acne, a skin disease in which pimples appear on the skin, will begin to develop, breasts will develop and they will face urological problems and life-threatening heart conditions. However, women are... middle of paper... completely unaware of their effects, while being brainwashed by them, advertising could prove to be the key underlying factor in encouraging especially young people, along with many others. other individuals, who are not eligible to be labeled “beautiful,” “strong and sturdy,” or “beautiful.” In hopes of becoming the “lean and trim” people they see universally displayed, including on television and billboards, many young people are starting to turn to steroids at an alarming and gradually increasing rate (refer to Figure 2). These ads, designed to give insight into what beauty truly is in the minds of its viewers, have a direct effect on the way people examine themselves. As a result, many more people are becoming willing to endure the negative effects of steroids on their bodies, just for a brief taste of what it means to be socially "acceptable."”.”.