perry et al

Question 1

What is interpersonal distance?

Answer 1

Interpersonal distance refers to the physical space individuals maintain between themselves and others during social interactions.

Question 2

What is personal space?

Answer 2

Personal space is the invisible boundary surrounding a person, within which others are not usually allowed without causing discomfort.

Question 3

What factors contribute to preferred personal space?

Answer 3

Factors include cultural norms, personality traits, situational context, emotional state, and past experiences.

Question 4

What is empathy?

Answer 4

Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of another person.

Question 5

What are the two dimensions of empathy?

Answer 5

The two dimensions are cognitive empathy (understanding others’ perspectives) and emotional empathy (sharing others’ feelings).

Question 6

What are social hormones?

Answer 6

Social hormones, like oxytocin and serotonin, are chemicals that influence social bonding and emotional connections.

Question 7

How can social hormones affect bonding?

Answer 7

Social hormones can enhance trust, reduce stress, and promote feelings of closeness and affection in relationships.

Question 8

What is the amygdala?

Answer 8

The amygdala is a brain structure involved in processing emotions, particularly fear and threat responses.

Question 9

How does the amygdala correlate to personal space?

Answer 9

The amygdala plays a role in regulating personal space by detecting threats and triggering discomfort when boundaries are breached.

Question 10

What is the social salience hypothesis?

Answer 10

This hypothesis suggests that the amygdala makes certain social cues more noticeable or important, influencing behavior and interpersonal interactions.

Question 11

What is the aim of the Perry et al. study?

Answer 11

The study aimed to investigate the role of the amygdala and oxytocin in regulating personal space and interpersonal distance.

Question 12

What was the research method and design of the study?

Answer 12

The study used an experimental method with a repeated-measures design.

Question 13

What were the data collection techniques?

Answer 13

Techniques included behavioral observations, self-report questionnaires, and neuroimaging.

Question 14

What was the independent variable of the study?

Answer 14

The independent variable was oxytocin administration versus placebo.

Question 15

What was the dependent variable of the study?

Answer 15

The dependent variable was the measured interpersonal distance maintained by participants.

Question 16

What was the sample size of the study?

Answer 16

the study involved approximately 4500 people

Question 17

How was the questionnaire designed in the study?

Answer 17

The questionnaire assessed participants’ comfort levels with varying interpersonal distances and personal space preferences.

Question 18

What were the standardized tests involved in the experiment?

Answer 18

Standardized testing included measures of social anxiety, empathy, and baseline personality assessments.

Question 19

What was the third independent variable in the study?

Answer 19

A third variable may have included participants’ baseline amygdala activity or another contextual factor like anxiety levels.

Question 20

What was the procedure for Experiment 1?

Answer 20

Participants were administered oxytocin or placebo and then measured for their preferred interpersonal distance in a controlled setting.

Question 21

What was the procedure of Experiment 2?

Answer 21

Experiment 2 replicated the conditions with additional neuroimaging to observe amygdala activation during distance regulation tasks.

Question 22

What controls were used in the study?

Answer 22

Controls included placebo groups, standardized interaction scenarios, and controlling for individual differences like age and gender.

Question 23

Evaluate how ethical the study was (strengths and weaknesses).

Answer 23

Strengths: Informed consent, debriefing, minimal risk.
Weaknesses: Potential discomfort with interpersonal distance tasks and temporary side effects of oxytocin administration.

Question 24

What were the results of Experiment 1?

Answer 24

Oxytocin reduced preferred interpersonal distance, suggesting it influences social bonding.

Question 25

What were the results of Experiment 2?

Answer 25

Experiment 2 showed increased amygdala activity correlating with reduced personal space preferences under oxytocin influence.

Question 26

What is the conclusion of the study?

Answer 26

The study concluded that oxytocin and the amygdala are integral to regulating personal space and interpersonal distance, with implications for social bonding.

Question 27

What are the strengths of the study (brief pointers)?

Answer 27

Innovative use of neuroimaging.
Clear connection between biological mechanisms and social behavior.
Well-controlled experimental design.

Question 28

What are the weaknesses of the study (brief pointers)?

Answer 28

Small sample size.
Limited generalizability.
Ethical concerns over oxytocin administration.

Question 29

How is the study applicable to everyday life?

Answer 29

It provides insights into managing social anxiety, understanding autism spectrum disorders, and enhancing trust in therapeutic settings.

Question 30

What side is the study on in the individual vs. situational debate?

Answer 30

The study leans towards the situational side by highlighting how external factors like oxytocin influence interpersonal behavior.