Cited by 595Neuroendocrine regulation and behaviorExperimental Behavioral Economics StudiesEvolutionary Psychology and Human Behavior

Oxytocin is associated with human trustworthiness

ZAK, P, KURZBAN, R, MATZNER, W·2005·Hormones and Behavior

Abstract

Human beings exhibit substantial interpersonal trust-even with strangers. The neuroactive hormone oxytocin facilitates social recognition in animals, and we examine if oxytocin is related to trustworthiness between humans. This paper reports the results of an experiment to test this hypothesis, where trust and trustworthiness are measured using the sequential anonymous "trust game" with monetary payoffs. We find that oxytocin levels are higher in subjects who receive a monetary transfer that reflects an intention of trust relative to an unintentional monetary transfer of the same amount. In addition, higher oxytocin levels are associated with trustworthy behavior (the reciprocation of trust). Absent intentionality, both the oxytocin and behavioral responses are extinguished. We conclude that perceptions of intentions of trust affect levels of circulating oxytocin.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2005.07.009

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Authors
ZAK, P., KURZBAN, R., & MATZNER, W.
Affiliations
  • Loma Linda University Medical Center (US)
  • University of Pennsylvania (US)
  • Claremont Graduate University (US)
Corresponding author
ZAK, P
Venue
Hormones and Behavior
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2005-12
Volume
48
Issue
5
Pages
522-527
ISSN
0018-506X (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2091662798
Cited by
595
References
36
Citations by year
2026: 9 · 2025: 14 · 2024: 17 · 2023: 14 · 2022: 19 · 2021: 39 · 2020: 37 · 2019: 16 · 2018: 29 · 2017: 28 · 2016: 24 · 2015: 37 · 2014: 47 · 2013: 40 · 2012: 43
FWCI
23.20
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Hormones and Behavior (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
  • Social Sciences › Safety Research › Experimental Behavioral Economics Studies
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Evolutionary Psychology and Human Behavior
Keywords
oxytocin, trustworthiness, interpersonal trust, trust game, intentionality, social recognition, mutual trust, social cognition
MeSH terms
Adult, Decision Making, Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay, Female, Hormones, Humans, Male, Oxytocin, Social Behavior, Trust

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