Crockett et al (2010)

Question 1

Which biblical approach?

Answer 1

Neurotransmitters

Question 2

Aim

Answer 2

To see the effect on pro-social behavior (mood that is determined by a persons choice or free will

Question 3

Method

Answer 3

The experiment is made up of two conditions. In condition one, the participants were given a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) called citalopram. In condition two, the participants were given a placebo. After taking the drug in each condition, the participants were asked a series of moral dilemmas about morality with two answers, personal or impersonal. The question was would you push a man off a bridge to save five other people (personal), or would you pull a lever that would kill a man to save five other people (impersonal)?

Question 4

Results

Answer 4

The participants who were under the influence of the SSRI were more likely to chose to kill the man impersonally. Participants were also more likely to chose the impersonal option, but the ones under the influence were even more opposed to the idea of personally killing s man.

Question 5

Findings

Answer 5

Serotonin reduces the acceptability of personal harm and therefore promotes prosocial behavior. Harming another person is seen as less acceptable

Question 6

Limitaion

Answer 6

The SSRI had a strong side affect that made the participants nauseous when taking the medication. this made the participants aware of which pill they were being studied with, and this could have made them act differently because they knew the nature of the experiment and which pill was supposed to affect them.