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Source: BestPsychologyDegrees.org

Oxytocin: how one molecule shapes our social lives

What is it?

Neuropeptide [noor-oh-pep-tahyd]=

A peptide produced by neural tissue, esp one with hormonal activity.[3]

Or, a molecule that helps with[2]:

analgesia

rewards

food intake

metabolism

reproduction

social behavior

learning

and memory functions.

It’s something tiny that alters our entire social world.

Attraction:

Oxytocin attracts us to others when we’re single, and reinforces existing relationships when we aren’t.

The Experiment: [1]

86 healthy, heterosexual males:

–Half in relationships

half of those with a dose of oxytocin

the other half with a placebo

–Half single

half of those with a dose of oxytocin

half of those with a placebo

The setting:

A room with an attractive female experimenter

And a control male experimenter

What we’re watching:

1.) space between experimenter and experimentee

2.) eye contact

Results:

[group, ideal distance [cm]]

1a.) Oxytocin/in relationship/with eye contact: c. 70cm

2a.) Oxytocin/single/with eye contact: c. 68 cm

3a.) Placebo/in relationship/with eye contact: c. 56 cm

4a.) Placebo/Single/with eye contact: c.57 cm

1b.) Oxytocin/in relationship/ no eye contact:c. 69.5 cm

2b.) Oxytocin/single/no eye contact:c. 57 cm

3b.) Placebo/in relationship/no eye contact: c. 54cm

4b.) Placebo/single/no eye contact: c. 54 cm

To point out:

Distance between Oxytocin/in relationship, and both placebo’d parties.

Or, ‘a steady 6 inch difference can mean a lot when signaling attraction.’

Strengthening of social memories: good or bad

Oxytocin heightens social memories, both good and bad

Components:

3 groups of mice:

1.) Oxytocin receptors removed

2.) Extra Oxytocin receptors

3.) Normal Oxytocin receptors

Each placed into individual cages with more aggressive mice.

Six hours later:

Mice placed back in cages with aggressive mice

Group 1: initially showed no fear

Group 2: showed intense fear

Group 3: showed moderate fear

The group with no Oxytocin receptors appeared to have forgotten the violent encounter.

The groupthink hormone:

Experiment 1:[5][6]

6 Groups of 6,

One half of the participants on oxytocin

Groups viewed images and voted on the most attractive(1-11 ratings).

Placebo (group 1) and Oxytocined(group 2) groups viewed their own and other groups responses.

Group 1 and 2 agreed with their group more often than not.

But Group 2 cited more strongly with their group when another group disagreed.

Summary: Oxytocin enhances bonds with those around you, and subsequently alienates you from other groups.

Experiment 2:[7][8]

Components:

400 participants who identify strongly with a campus group:

ROTC, Band members, frat members, sports teammates.

Performing a group ritual:

(marching),(band practice), (ritual), (practice or travel)

Led to increased oxytocin levels.

Groups played trust and sharing games (can visualize as company retreat type ‘catch me as I fall back’ type games)

For money

Then had the option to

1.) split the money among their group

2.) donate to a random charity

Groups that reported feeling more marginalized went for option (1).

(Band nerds;sports teams without many fans)

And in the presence of stress or heightened testosterone:

Groups were outright aggressive against other groups.

Oxytocin fosters trust, not gullibility[9]

60 men: half with a spray of oxytocin (group 1)

Half without(group 2)

Played a game where they could transfer money to

1.) a trustworthy partner

2.) the computer

3.) an untrustworthy partner

Group 1

Gave more to 1, and 2, but not to 3

Group 2

Gave less to 1, 2, and 3

Summary: Oxytocin made partipants more trusting, not unreasonable.

Oxytocin: the love, cuddle, holiday, moral, and group think hormone makes us who we are, for better and worse.

Citations: