hormones and behavior Flashcards
hormones and behavior intro
Hormones are chemical messengers released in the bloodstream and travel with blood to reach their destination
They regualte long term processes
Theyre relased by endocrine glands snd influence cells that have particular receptors for particular hormones (target cells)
Hormones bind to receptors which launch a sequence of change
Therefore, they dont influence behavior directly, but change the probability that a certain behavior will occur in response to a cerain environemental stimulus
Oxcytocin
Plays role in sexaul reproduction, childbirth, social bonding
scheel et al
Scheel et al
Aim
To see if oxytocin modulates social distance between men and women
Method
86 heterosexual men used. Some single and others in relationship
Double blind independnet measures
Researcher administered oxytocin or placebo intranasally
Ppt did 2 tasks:
Stop distance paradigm- subjects at one side of room, attractive female researcher on other side. Subject asked to slowly move towards experimenter and stop at distance that made him feel slightly uncomfortable (too close)
Approach avoidance task- subjects looked at series of pics on screen while head was on a chin rest. 4 types of pics, shown in random order:
Positive social (attractive woman)
Positive non social (beuatiful landcape_
Negative social (mutilation)
Negative non social (dirt)
Ppt had joystick and if they liked pic, had to pull joystick, which increased pic size
If they didnt what they like, they pushed joystick, which reduced pic size
^stimulates approach/ avoidance
Results and conc
First task- oxytocin stimulated men in monogamous relationships, not single ones, to keep greater distance from woman
Suggests oxytocin caused men to ‘stay away from’ women who werent their partner
Scond task: only group of pics affected by oxytocin and relationship was positive social
Ppt who had oxytocin reacted slower (more reluctantly) to positive social if they were in a relationship
Concluded oxy selectively inhibits approach to some stimuli (e.g attractive women) in men who were in relationship
Conclusion
Men can be influenced by oxytocin to keep distance from atractive women they dont kno
Oxy promotes fidelity
