Oxytocin: How One Molecule Shapes Our Social Lives
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.
VIEW INFOGRAPHIC HERE
http://www.bestpsychologydegrees.org/oxytocin/