Kosfeld et al. (2005)

Limitations

- Population generalizability given that all the participants were males with a mean age of 22 years. - In the first trial of the experiment, the researchers were not able to infer causation between oxytocin levels and the level of trust people have in other humans because oxytocin could have reduced risk aversion in the participants (this was solved through a follow-up experiment mentioned above).

Findings

- Results of the experiment showed that the level of trust in participants who had received a dose of oxytocin was higher than that of the control group. - 45% of participants in the oxytocin group displayed maximum level of trust by giving all 12 monetary units whereas only 21% of the participants in the placebo group showed maximum trust. - There is a median transfer of 10 units in the oxytocin group and 8 units for the control group.

Strength

- The researchers were able to recreate the conditions of the "human experiment" in the first trial into the follow up study using a software modelled after the the decisions of the trustees in the initial experiment. - The usage of a double blind design ensures that there will be no biases in both the researchers and the participants.

Procedure

- Trust game with monetary stakes - Participants: 128 male students (22 years old) were administered with an oxytocin nasal spray or a placebo spray - Method: Double-Blind Study > Allocated into Oxytocin or Placebo group - Trustee and investor both given 12 monetary units, investors can give 0, 4, 8, or 12 monetary units to to invest with a trustee (thereby doubling whatever money that they give); the trustee given the option to keep all the money, give back some, or give back all of the money - game 4 times iln the same role and in the end, the total earned monetary units that were exchanged for real money

Conclusion

It was concluded that oxytocin specifically affects trust in interpersonal interactions while keeping one's general attitude towards risk intact.

Aim

To investigate the effect of Oxytocin on human trust