Scheele et al(2012):
AMPRC: Aim:To investigate the role of oxytocin in promoting fidelity
in humans.
Method: It is a laboratory experiment with an independent
measure design. It is also a double-blind study(where
neither the researcher nor participant knows who has taken
the placebo or the oxytocin).
Procedure:
-86 heterosexual men(some single and some in
monogamous relationships-self reported)were recruited for
the experiment.
-The participants were then given either oxytocin or a
placebo intranasally and did two tasks:
1)Stop distance paradigm task- This game consisted of a
participant standing at one end of the room and an
attractive female confederate standing at the other end.
The participants were then instructed to slowly walk
towards the female confederate until they reached a
distance where they felt slightly uncomfortable.
2)Approach/ avoidance task- Participants sat in front of a
screen and were shown a series of four different types of
pictures-
~Positive social pictures(attractive women).
~Positive non-social pictures(scenic landscapes)
~Negative social pictures(mutilations).
~Negative non-social pictures(dirt).
- If the participant liked the picture, he was made to pull
the joystick- which increased the size of the picture. If he
did not like it, he had to push the joystick- which decreased
the size of the picture.
Results:
Distance from the females:
-Oxytocin group= 59 cm for single males and 71 cm for
pair-bonded males.
-Placebo group= 57 for single males and 57 for pair-bonded
males
-The second task showed that the group of pictures most
affected by oxytocin and relationship status was the
Positive social group. Men in a relationship(but not single
men)pull the joystick slower in the oxytocin condition but
not in the placebo. The men in relationships who took
oxytocin were more reluctant to zoom in on women.
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AMPRC: Aim:To investigate the role of oxytocin in promoting fidelity
in humans.
Method: It is a laboratory experiment with an independent
measure design. It is also a double-blind study(where
neither the researcher nor participant knows who has taken
the placebo or the oxytocin).
Procedure:
-86 heterosexual men(some single and some in
monogamous relationships-self reported)were recruited for
the experiment.
-The participants were then given either oxytocin or a
placebo intranasally and did two tasks:
1)Stop distance paradigm task- This game consisted of a
participant standing at one end of the room and an
attractive female confederate standing at the other end.
The participants were then instructed to slowly walk
towards the female confederate until they reached a
distance where they felt slightly uncomfortable.
2)Approach/ avoidance task- Participants sat in front of a
screen and were shown a series of four different types of
pictures-
~Positive social pictures(attractive women).
~Positive non-social pictures(scenic landscapes)
~Negative social pictures(mutilations).
~Negative non-social pictures(dirt).
- If the participant liked the picture, he was made to pull
the joystick- which increased the size of the picture. If he
did not like it, he had to push the joystick- which decreased
the size of the picture.
Results:
Distance from the females:
-Oxytocin group= 59 cm for single males and 71 cm for
pair-bonded males.
-Placebo group= 57 for single males and 57 for pair-bonded
males
-The second task showed that the group of pictures most
affected by oxytocin and relationship status was the
Positive social group. Men in a relationship(but not single
men)pull the joystick slower in the oxytocin condition but
not in the placebo. The men in relationships who took
oxytocin were more reluctant to zoom in on women.
19
