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The Neuropeptide Oxytocin Regulates Parochial Altruism in Intergroup Conflict Among Humans

The Neuropeptide Oxytocin Regulates Parochial Altruism in Intergroup Conflict Among Humans. Carsten K. W. De Dreu , et al. (2010) Thanh-Thao Truong and Erika Gajda. Abstract. Parochial altruism – self-sacrifice to the in-group and aggression towards competing out-groups

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The Neuropeptide Oxytocin Regulates Parochial Altruism in Intergroup Conflict Among Humans

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  1. The Neuropeptide Oxytocin Regulates Parochial Altruism in Intergroup Conflict Among Humans Carsten K. W. De Dreu, et al. (2010) Thanh-Thao Truong and Erika Gajda

  2. Abstract • Parochial altruism – self-sacrifice to the in-group and aggression towards competing out-groups • Oxytocin – neuropeptide produced in the hypothalamus, regulates intergroup conflict • Double-blind placebo-controlled experiments • Results show a “tend and defend” response

  3. Introduction • Modern intergroup conflict includes prejudice, terrorism, ethnic cleansing, and interstate war • ex. Genocides have killed >210 million people and terrorists killed >30,000 people • Parochial altruism: self-sacrifice influences in-group love and out-group aggression • Out-aggression may lead to out-group hate • “groups with a greater number of courageous, sympathetic, and faithful members…would spread and be victorious over other tribes.” – Darwin

  4. Introduction cont. • Oxytocin is a neurotransmitter and hormone • Targets include amygdala, hippocampus, brainstem, and regions of the spinal cord • Promotes trust and cooperation • More OXTR leads to greater empathy, generosity, etc. • Hypothesis: “Oxytocin modulates parochial altruism” via in-group trust/love and out-group hate/defensive aggression.

  5. Experiment 1Methods • Does oxytocin stimulate in-group love, out-group hate, or both? • Participants: 49 healthy males • Given a placebo or oxytocin nasal spray 30 min. prior to game

  6. Experiment 1Methods • Each individual given €10* €1 kept = €1 for the individual* €1 contributed to within group = €0.50 to each in-group member + individual* €1 contributed to between group = €0.50 to each in-group member + individual, subtracts €0.50 from each out-group member • Contributing nothing results in highest personal outcomeregardless what others do • Contributing to within group results in highest benefit to in-group (cooperative motivation and in-group love) • Contributing to between-group reflects spiteful out-group hate

  7. Experiment 1Results • In-group love > out-group hate • Oxytocin maximized in-group love but had no effect on out-group hate (25% oxytocin vs. 28% placebo) • Placebo: 52% egoist and 20% in-group lovers • Oxytocin: 17% egoist and 58% in-group lovers • In-group trust exceeded out-group distrust- Measured on a seven-point Likert scale (1 = low, 7 = high)

  8. Experiment 1Results

  9. Experiment 2Methods • Do cooperative individuals respond more strongly to oxytocin than non-cooperative individuals? • 67 males completed the standard social value orientations test (9 total choices) • Cooperators made at least 6 out 9 cooperative choices (N=25) • Non-cooperators made at least 6 out of 9 non-cooperative choices (N=42) • Given placebo or oxytocin, same methods as Experiment 1

  10. Experiment 2Results • Oxytocin increased in-group love among both cooperators and non-cooperators • Oxytocin does not work only on cooperative individuals • Trust results similar to Experiment 1

  11. Experiment 3Methods • Does oxytocin modulate defensive aggression against out-groups? • 75 males • Randomly assigned to one of four between-group prisoner-dilemmas (BG-PD) • Four possible outcomes – temptation (T), reward (R), punishment (P), and sucker (S) • T>R>P>S

  12. Experiment 3Methods • Mutual cooperation = reward of 1.00 (R) Mutual non-cooperation = reward of 0.60 (P) • T and S values vary with fear and greed level • Greed = T – R • Fear = P – S • Greed and fear were set to high and low values (0.40 vs. 0.10)

  13. Experiment 3Methods • B: high greed, high fear • C: high greed, low fear • D: low greed, high fear • E: low greed, low fear • Researchers prediction: • Higher non-cooperation in B/C may reflect greedy desire to exploit out-group • Higher non-cooperation in B/D may reflect anxious desire to protect the in-group against a possibly aggressive out-group.

  14. Experiment 3Results • Individuals given oxytocin are less likely to cooperate when fear is high. • No effects involving greed were significant. • Those given oxytocin had stronger in-group trust than placebo • Higher in-group trust • No effects on out-group distrust • “Tend and defend”

  15. Experiment 3Results

  16. Experiment 3Results • A: non-cooperation • (range 0-3 tries) • B: Motivation to protect (range 1-7) • C: In-group trust • (range 1-7)

  17. Discussion • In all three experiments, those given oxytocin display more in-group trust and in-group love. • No effect on out-group hate and out-group distrust • Defensive aggression and protection of in-group was higher among individuals given oxytocin. • Parochial altruism evolved to increase individual survival via promotion of social life and protection against threats.

  18. Limitations • Used all males • Agelimit (college student) • Brain development • Hormone levels • OXTR numberand sensitivity to response • Culture • Setting (no face-to-face interaction) • Unclear organization/format

  19. Real World Application Boston Bombings • Tsarnaev brothers planted two pressure cooker bombs at the Boston Marathon in 2013 • "When you attack one Muslim, you attack all Muslims.“ • Great in-group love and out-group fear • What about out-group distrust? • Americans vs. Extremists

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