Aligning one’s behavior with others with the goal of fitting in or gaining accurate information, often in contrast to one’s own beliefs, is called social conformity. Social conformity has been a...Show moreAligning one’s behavior with others with the goal of fitting in or gaining accurate information, often in contrast to one’s own beliefs, is called social conformity. Social conformity has been a topic of research in the literature, however conditions and factors which influence conformity are still under investigation. This study investigates the hormone Oxytocin and the trait empathic perspective-taking as potential influences on conformity- processes. Oxytocin may enhance conformity-processes based on the literature. A hallmark of the study is that we correct for regression-to-the-mean, to which paradigms measuring participants exactly twice may be vulnerable. As part of a larger project, 80 healthy male participants rated the trustworthiness of faces. After rating each face, participants were displayed an imaginary group-rating of the average European student. After a distraction-task and being administered either Oxytocin or a placebo, they had to re-rate the faces without being displayed the group-rating. Conformity was inferred when participants altered their ratings after being presented with the group-rating. To control for regression-to-the-mean, a control-group of 30 healthy males underwent the same experiment, without being presented with the group-rating or being administered Oxytocin. Results showed a statistically significant effect for group-rating, suggesting that participants altered their rating after seeing the group-rating. No interactions between group-ratings and either Oxytocin or empathic perspective-taking were found. After controlling for regression-to-the-mean, the effect-size of group-rating was substantially reduced, suggesting an influence of regression-to-the-mean on uncontrolled results. Further, the study makes recommendations for future research with regard to investigating conformity-processes in similar paradigms.Show less
The aim of the study was to examine the effects of maternal stress, oxytocin and cortisol in breast milk, and frequency of breastfeeding on infant temperamental traits (Fear Aversion, Negative...Show moreThe aim of the study was to examine the effects of maternal stress, oxytocin and cortisol in breast milk, and frequency of breastfeeding on infant temperamental traits (Fear Aversion, Negative Affectivity, Orienting/Regulation, Extraversion/Surgency). In the cross-sectional study, Polish mothers and their 4 months old infants (N-163) were tested in two different meetings. The mothers filled out EPDS, RLCQ, IBQ-R and a survey concerning their breastfeeding pattern. Furthermore, breast milk samples were collected to assess oxytocin, cortisol and energy levels in milk. The findings does not support the prediction that maternal stress influences infants’ temperamental traits. The results of the study indicated that oxytocin in mother’s milk was significantly associated with negative affectivity. However, no significant association was found between temperamental traits and cortisol. Moreover, nursing frequency was also significantly related to higher negative affectivity, however, the relationship is in the opposite direction of what is expected.Show less
This was the first study to concentrate on the relationship between endogenous oxytocin levels and the effect of emotion on the N170 and whether negative parenting experiences during childhood...Show moreThis was the first study to concentrate on the relationship between endogenous oxytocin levels and the effect of emotion on the N170 and whether negative parenting experiences during childhood moderated this relationship. The sample consisted of 50 female participants, aged 18-30 years old. First, the relationship between oxytocin levels and the effect of emotion on the N170 was examined. In addition, the relationship between negative parenting experiences and the effect of emotion on the N170 was examined. Last, the possible moderating effect of negative parenting experiences on the relationship between the natural oxytocin levels and the effect of emotion on the N170 was examined. The parental love withdrawal questionnaire and an adapted version of the Conflict Tactic Scales (CTS; harsh discipline) were used to measure negative parenting (Huffmeijer, Alink, Tops, Grewen, Light, Bakermans-Kranenburg, Van IJzendoorn, 2013; Straus and Hamby, 1997). To study the effect of emotion on the N170, participants’ ERPs were studied in response to pictures showing emotional faces presented with feedback stimuli during an experimental task. Endogenous oxytocin levels were measured using saliva samples. Results suggested an interaction effect of high parental love withdrawal on the N170, meaning that participants who reported high love withdrawal showed higher amplitudes on the N170 in response to emotional faces than participants who reported low love withdrawal. This was in particular the case for the N170 over the left hemisphere. This may be due to the fact that experiences of love withdrawal may cause higher levels of fear of failure and the emotional faces were presented in combination with feedback stimuli. Differences in endogenous oxytocin levels or harsh discipline did not cause differences in the effect of emotion on the N170.Show less
Evidence suggests the existence of a possible correlation between oxytocin levels, degree of empathy and in turn prosocial behavior. To further our understanding, the current study examined the...Show moreEvidence suggests the existence of a possible correlation between oxytocin levels, degree of empathy and in turn prosocial behavior. To further our understanding, the current study examined the hypothesis whether donating behaviour could be explained by an influence of endogenous oxytocin on empathic concern. Thirty undergraduate 18-30 year old female students were selected from a larger study (van IJzendoorn, Huffmeijer, Alink, Brakermans-Kranenburg & Tops, 2011), which consisted of two experimental sessions. The current study conducted a secondary analysis of some of the data gathered during the second session of the original study, specifically from the participants who received a saline solution in the second experimental session. Levels of endogenous oxytocin in saliva samples, measures of empathy (interpersonal reactivity index questionnaire) and donations to measure donating behavior; were gathered in the original study and were also analyzed in the current study. Several simple regression analyses as well as a multiple regression analysis were conducted to test the hypothesis. The findings revealed no significant explanatory power of endogenous oxytocin and empathic concern on donating behaviour. Thus, the hypothesis was not confirmed. Both the use of an out-group individual as a recipient of the donations and the fact that all participants were likely highly socially proficient and empathic, may explain the null results. For future research it is recommended to use a more diverse sample including participants with both high and low social skills and to compare donating behaviour to in-group and out-group recipients. Finally, the differences between the prosocial effects of endogenous versus exogenous oxytocin levels should be determined.Show less
The neuropeptide oxytocin has been implicated in prosocial behavior and social cognition. However, little is known on the influence of oxytocin on the perception of infant positive and negative...Show moreThe neuropeptide oxytocin has been implicated in prosocial behavior and social cognition. However, little is known on the influence of oxytocin on the perception of infant positive and negative characteristics. In a double-blind placebo-controlled study, 40 females (Mage = 20.11) were asked to rate characteristics of infants with high, medium and low infantile physical features before and after receiving nasal spray containing either 16 IU of oxytocin or placebo. We found an increase of adults` perception of infant positive characteristics over time. In both conditions females perceived infants with less infantile physical features as displaying significantly more positive characteristics at posttreatment compared to pretreatment. We also found that participants perceived positive characteristics of infants in the high infantile physical features category as even more positive at posttreatment compared to pretreatment, but depending on treatment. Participants who received placebo perceived infants with more infantile physical features as more positive at posttreatment than at pretreatment, but oxytocin prevented increase on positive perception. Females who received oxytocin perceived infants with high infantile physical features almost equally positive both at pretreatment and at posttreatment. We conclude that when young adults are already highly prosocial to infants with infantile physical features, oxytocin may prevent an even more positive perception of infants. Our findings indicate that the effects of oxytocin are nuanced, and its effects contingent on personal and contextual factors.Show less
