Psychology - 3rd Learning outcome Part 1 (Oxytocin)

Study 2: Exam sentence

A study showing the negative effects of oxytocin was conducted by Shamay-Tsoory et al. (2009).

Study 3

Reading the Mind in the Eyes Task Guastella et al., (2009)

What is understood under narcissism

(an unhealthy self-obsession or self-love).

3rd Learning outcome: Using one or more examples, explain functions of two hormones in human behaviour.

3 Studies about Oxytocin, 2 Studies about Oxytocin

What is understood under psychopathic behaviour?

= a behavioural disorder characterized by - shallow feelings, - a lack of guilt - showing superficial charm - criminality

Study 1: Exam Sentence

A study showing the positive effects of oxytocin was conducted by Guastella et al. (2008).

Exam sentence, command term

Exam sentence: For this question, I understand the word 'explain' to mean discuss causation. To what extend do hormones cause behavior?

Study 2

Oxytocin and schadenfreude Tsoory et al., (2009)

Study 1: Conclusion

The administration of oxytocin to males enhances the encoding of positive social information to make it more memorable.

Study 3: Aim

To test the effects of oxytocin on Reading the Mind in the Eyes Task

TOK Knowledge Question:

To what extent should individuals be held responsible for psychopathic behaviour if it can be demonstrated to be the result of biochemical imbalances? EXAMPLE: TED Bundy

Study 2: Method

- 56 participants oxytocin or a placebo (in form of nasal spray) - They played a game of chance with another (fake) participant who either 1) won more money (envy manipulation) 2) lost more money (schadenfreude manipulation) 3) won/lost equal amounts of money

Conclusion of Oxytocin

- Although oxytocin is called "the love hormone" it is also involved in negative social emotions such as envy and schadenfreude. - to conclude - should be called "pleasure hormone" (can refer to schadenfreude this way - taking pleasure in others misfortune)

Hormones in comparison to neurotransmitters

- Hormones enter directly into the bloodstream - take longer to produce changes in behaviour than neurotransmitters - Some chemicals serve as both hormones and neurochemicals.

Oxytocin + Amygdala

- Oxytocin appears to change the brain signals related to social recognition via facial expression (perhaps triggered by changing the firing of the neurons of the amygdala) - Amygdala is greatly responsible for processing emotional stimuli.

Study 1: Method

- Oxytocin or a placebo was given (in the form of a nasal spray) to 69 healthy human male volunteers. - They were then presented 36 happy, angry, or neutral human faces. - Participants returned the following day to make "remember" and "know" judgments for a mixture of 72 new and the previously seen faces.

Study 2: Results

1) Oxytocin increased the envy ratings in unequal monetary gain conditions 2) Oxytocin increased ratings of schadenfreude (enjoyment over other's misfortune) during gain conditions 3) Oxytocin did not effect the emotional ratings following equal monetary gains nor general mood ratings

Study 3: Methods - Design?

Double-blind, randomized, placebo controlled

Study 1: Exam Opener

In this answer I will use examples to explain functions of two hormones in human behaviour. The two hormones are: Oxytocin and Testosterone.

Study 3: Results

Oxytocin improved performance on the test even the younger participants from 12-15 who received a lower dose

Study 1: Define hormones - Oxytocin

Oxytocin is a hormone produced by the hypothalamus after being stimulated by the pituitary gland. Oxytocin is often released with touches and hugs. THEREFORE: It is associated with bonding between a mother and offspring and lovers as well as wider social emotions.

Study 2: Results

Oxytocin is involved in moderating envy and schadenfreude and not just positive prosocial behaviors

Study 3: Method

Oxytocin or placebo (in form of nasal spray) was used - 16 male (ages 12-19 - diagnosed with Autistic of Asperger's Disorder. - Participants completed the reading the minds test (test of emotion recognition) which required them to look at faces and then pick one of the 4 words which best described the emotion (example: jealous, panicked etc)

Study 1: Results

Participants with oxytocin were more likely to make "remember" and "know" judgments for previously seen happy faces compared with angry and neutral human faces. - did not enhance or make faces happier

Study 1: Evaluation

The study used only male participants therefore caution should be used when generalizing the results to females

Study 3: Conclusions

This study provided the first evidence that oxytocin improves emotion recognition in you people diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders. - suggest further evaluation of oxytocin nasal spray as a treatment to improve social communication and interaction in young people with autism spectrum disorders

Study 1: Aim

To study the effects of oxytocin on male humans and how it enhances the encoding of positive social information.

Study 2: Aim

To test the effect of oxytocin on envy and schadenfreude.