2.5 Hormones and Behavior

Question 1

Aim- Romero et al (2014)

Answer 1

investigated if oxytocin promotes social bonds in mammals in non-reproductive contexts

Question 2

Method- Romero et al (2014)

Answer 2

repeated measures design

16 dogs were sprayed intra-nasally, either with oxytocin or a placebo. they were placed with their owner and another dog in the same room, and their behaviour was recorded by four cameras for one hour. The room was empty except for a chair on which the dog owner sat. the owner was instructed to move the chair in pre-designated positions every 10 minutes, but otherwise sit quietly and not actively interact with the dog.

Question 3

Findings- Romero et al (2014)

Answer 3

dogs sprayed with oxytocin showed higher affiliation towards their owner. Affiliation was operationalized as sniffing, licking, gentle touching with the nose or paw, play bouts and body contact. They also spent significantly more time in close proximity to the owner. Similar results were observed for the dog partner (the other dog present in the room): affiliation and approach behaviours were more frequent in the oxytocin condition.

The effect of oxytocin was also found to be bidirectional; subsequent blood tests showed that the more often the dog interacted with the owner and the dog partner, the higher levels of endogenous oxytocin it had.

Question 4

Conclusion- Romero et al

Answer 4

oxytocin “triggers” social interact and performs the function of maintaining close social bonds in mammels

Question 5

Aim- Scheele et al (2012)

Answer 5

investigate the role of oxytocin in promoting fidelity in humans

Question 6

Method- Scheele et al (2012)

Answer 6

independent measures design, double blind study; experiment

Question 7

Procedure- Scheele et al (2012)

Answer 7

either oxytocin or placebo was administered to the participants intransally. After this, participants were required to engage in two tasks:

1. stop-distance paradigm— the participant stood at one end of the room; an attractive female confederate stood at the other end. participants were instructed to slowly approach the female confederate and stop at a distance that made them feel slightly uncomfortable
2. approach/avoidance task— participants were positioned in front of a screen. they also had a joystick and were then shown a series of pictures of four types, in random order

If the participants liked the picture, he had to pull the joystick, increasing the picture’s size. If he did not like the picture, he had to push the joystick, decreasing the picture’s size

Question 8

Findings- Scheele et al (2012)

Answer 8

From the first task, oxytocin caused men to keep a greater distance from the attractive female confederate, but only if the man was in a stable relationship

From the second task, the only group of pictures affected by oxytocin and relationship status was the positive social group (pictures of attractive women). Men in a relation (but not single men) pulled ht joystick more slowly in the oxytocin condition but not in the placebo condition

Question 9

Conclusion- Scheele et al (2012)

Answer 9

oxytocin causes men in a relationship to keep a greater distance from attractive women who are not their partners, promoting fidelity. The second task makes it evident that this effect of oxytocin is highly specific and selective to a certain group of stimuli: attractive women