Oxytocin moderates the association between testosterone-cortisol ratio and trustworthiness: A randomized placebo-controlled study
Oxytocin has been proposed to enhance feelings of trust, however, these findings have been difficult to replicate. Environmental or hormonal factors might influence this association. We studied whether oxytocin moderates the association between the testosterone-cortisol ratio, which is associated wi...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2021-11-01
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| Series: | Comprehensive Psychoneuroendocrinology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666497621000540 |
| _version_ | 1818383758453112832 |
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| author | Youri R. Berends Joke H.M. Tulen André I. Wierdsma Yolanda B. de Rijke Steven A. Kushner Hjalmar J.C. van Marle |
| author_facet | Youri R. Berends Joke H.M. Tulen André I. Wierdsma Yolanda B. de Rijke Steven A. Kushner Hjalmar J.C. van Marle |
| author_sort | Youri R. Berends |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Oxytocin has been proposed to enhance feelings of trust, however, these findings have been difficult to replicate. Environmental or hormonal factors might influence this association. We studied whether oxytocin moderates the association between the testosterone-cortisol ratio, which is associated with risk taking behavior and aggression, and trustworthiness, while controlling for the general level of trust. A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study with 53 healthy males was performed in which 32IU oxytocin (n = 27) or placebo (n = 26) was administered intranasally. Participants subsequently played the Trust Game in which they were allocated to the role of trustee. In the third phase of the Trust Game, we found a positive association between the testosterone-cortisol-ratio and the proportion of the amount that is returned to the investor (P=<0.01). However, administration of oxytocin reduced reciprocity in those with a high testosterone-cortisol ratio after reciprocity restoration (a significant interaction effect between administration of oxytocin and the testosterone-cortisol ratio in the third phase of the Trust Game, P = 0.015). The third phase of the Trust Game represents the restoration of reciprocity and trustworthiness, after this is violated in the second phase. Therefore, our data suggest that oxytocin might hinder the restoration of trustworthiness and diminish risk-taking behavior when trust is violated, especially in those who are hormonally prone to risk-taking behavior by a high testosterone-cortisol ratio. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-14T03:11:27Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-da2524a0cbd543dfb69ba379e51a4262 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2666-4976 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-14T03:11:27Z |
| publishDate | 2021-11-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Comprehensive Psychoneuroendocrinology |
| spelling | doaj.art-da2524a0cbd543dfb69ba379e51a42622022-12-21T23:19:15ZengElsevierComprehensive Psychoneuroendocrinology2666-49762021-11-018100080Oxytocin moderates the association between testosterone-cortisol ratio and trustworthiness: A randomized placebo-controlled studyYouri R. Berends0Joke H.M. Tulen1André I. Wierdsma2Yolanda B. de Rijke3Steven A. Kushner4Hjalmar J.C. van Marle5Department of Psychiatry, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, the Netherlands; Fivoor, FPC de Kijvelanden, Poortugaal, the Netherlands; GGZ Delfland, Department of Forensic Psychiatry, Delft, the Netherlands; Corresponding author. Department of Psychiatry, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Dr. Molewaterplein 40, 3015 GD, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.Department of Psychiatry, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, the Netherlands; Corresponding author. Department of Psychiatry, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Dr. Molewaterplein 40, 3015 GD, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.Department of Psychiatry, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, the NetherlandsDepartment of Clinical Chemistry, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, the NetherlandsDepartment of Psychiatry, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, the NetherlandsDepartment of Psychiatry, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, the Netherlands; Fivoor, FPC de Kijvelanden, Poortugaal, the NetherlandsOxytocin has been proposed to enhance feelings of trust, however, these findings have been difficult to replicate. Environmental or hormonal factors might influence this association. We studied whether oxytocin moderates the association between the testosterone-cortisol ratio, which is associated with risk taking behavior and aggression, and trustworthiness, while controlling for the general level of trust. A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study with 53 healthy males was performed in which 32IU oxytocin (n = 27) or placebo (n = 26) was administered intranasally. Participants subsequently played the Trust Game in which they were allocated to the role of trustee. In the third phase of the Trust Game, we found a positive association between the testosterone-cortisol-ratio and the proportion of the amount that is returned to the investor (P=<0.01). However, administration of oxytocin reduced reciprocity in those with a high testosterone-cortisol ratio after reciprocity restoration (a significant interaction effect between administration of oxytocin and the testosterone-cortisol ratio in the third phase of the Trust Game, P = 0.015). The third phase of the Trust Game represents the restoration of reciprocity and trustworthiness, after this is violated in the second phase. Therefore, our data suggest that oxytocin might hinder the restoration of trustworthiness and diminish risk-taking behavior when trust is violated, especially in those who are hormonally prone to risk-taking behavior by a high testosterone-cortisol ratio.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666497621000540TrustworthinessTrust gameTestosterone-cortisol ratioOxytocin |
| spellingShingle | Youri R. Berends Joke H.M. Tulen André I. Wierdsma Yolanda B. de Rijke Steven A. Kushner Hjalmar J.C. van Marle Oxytocin moderates the association between testosterone-cortisol ratio and trustworthiness: A randomized placebo-controlled study Comprehensive Psychoneuroendocrinology Trustworthiness Trust game Testosterone-cortisol ratio Oxytocin |
| title | Oxytocin moderates the association between testosterone-cortisol ratio and trustworthiness: A randomized placebo-controlled study |
| title_full | Oxytocin moderates the association between testosterone-cortisol ratio and trustworthiness: A randomized placebo-controlled study |
| title_fullStr | Oxytocin moderates the association between testosterone-cortisol ratio and trustworthiness: A randomized placebo-controlled study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Oxytocin moderates the association between testosterone-cortisol ratio and trustworthiness: A randomized placebo-controlled study |
| title_short | Oxytocin moderates the association between testosterone-cortisol ratio and trustworthiness: A randomized placebo-controlled study |
| title_sort | oxytocin moderates the association between testosterone cortisol ratio and trustworthiness a randomized placebo controlled study |
| topic | Trustworthiness Trust game Testosterone-cortisol ratio Oxytocin |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666497621000540 |
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