Universität zu Köln

Chen, Frances S., Mayer, Jennifer, Mussweiler, Thomas and Heinrichs, Markus (2015). Oxytocin increases the likeability of physically formidable men. Soc. Cogn. Affect. Neurosci., 10 (6). S. 797 - 801. OXFORD: OXFORD UNIV PRESS. ISSN 1749-5024

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Abstract

Physical size and strength are associated with dominance and threat. The current study tested (i) whether men's evaluations of male strangers would be negatively influenced by cues indicating physical formidability, and (ii) whether these evaluations would be influenced by oxytocin, a neuropeptide that mediates social behavior and reduces social anxiety. In a placebo-controlled double-blind design, we administered either oxytocin (24 I.U.) or placebo intranasally to 100 healthy males and assessed their responses to an image of either a physically formidable (strong) or physically non-formidable (weak) male peer. Whereas participants receiving placebo expressed dislike and avoidance of the strong male relative to the weak male, oxytocin selectively improved social evaluation of the strong male. These results provide first evidence that oxytocin regulates social evaluation of peers based on body features indicating strength and formidability. We discuss the possibility that oxytocin may promote the expansion of social networks by increasing openness toward potentially threatening individuals.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID ORCID Put Code Chen, Frances S. UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Mayer, Jennifer UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Mussweiler, Thomas UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Heinrichs, Markus UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED
URN:	urn:nbn:de:hbz:38-402578
DOI:	10.1093/scan/nsu116
Journal or Publication Title:	Soc. Cogn. Affect. Neurosci.
Volume:	10
Number:	6
Page Range:	S. 797 - 801
Date:	2015
Publisher:	OXFORD UNIV PRESS
Place of Publication:	OXFORD
ISSN:	1749-5024
Language:	English
Faculty:	Unspecified
Divisions:	Unspecified
Subjects:	no entry
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Keywords Language SOCIAL-INTERACTION; INTERGROUP BIAS; HUMAN BRAIN; HUMANS; VASOPRESSIN; ATTACHMENT; FEMALES; STRESS; NEUROPEPTIDES; AGGRESSION Multiple languages Neurosciences; Psychology; Psychology, Experimental Multiple languages
URI:	http://kups.ub.uni-koeln.de/id/eprint/40257