The DOI matches its Crossref record; 142 of the 144 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Oxytocin modulates cooperation within and competition between groups: An integrative review and research agenda
Abstract
The author reviews evidence that hypothalamic release (or infusion) of the neuropeptide oxytocin modulates the regulation of cooperation and conflict among humans because of three reasons. First, oxytocin enables social categorization of others into in-group versus out-group. Second, oxytocin dampens amygdala activity and enables the development of trust. Third, and finally, oxytocin up-regulates neural circuitries (e.g., inferior frontal gyrus, ventromedial prefrontal cortex, caudate nucleus) involved in empathy and other-concern. Consistent with an evolutionary perspective on the functionality of cooperation, it is concluded that oxytocin-motivated cooperation is mostly parochial-it motivates (i) in-group favoritism, (ii) cooperation towards in-group but not out-group members, and (iii) defense-motivated non-cooperation towards threatening outsiders. Thus, in addition to its well-known role in reproduction and pair-bond formation, oxytocin's primary functions include in-group "tend-and-defend." This review concludes with avenues for new research on oxytocin's functions in within-group cooperation and between-group competition. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled Oxytocin, Vasopressin, and Social Behavior.
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“since OXT can also promote risk aversion (Declerck et al., 2010) and noncooperation toward individuals perceived as outsiders (De Dreu, 2012).”
From Oxytocin Modulates Social Distance between Males and Females (2012) · cites this paper as De Dreu, 2012
In the citing paper
“The anxiolytic effect of oxytocin is proposed to facilitate social cohesion during highly risky situations that might otherwise precipitate defection away from threat (4).”
From Oxytocin reactivity during intergroup conflict in wild chimpanzees (2017) · cites this paper as [4]
In the citing paper
“This suggests that oxytocin triggers a “tend and defend” form of parochial altruism, accentuating cooperative behavior toward the in-group as well as defensive behavior toward out-groups (4).”
From Oxytocin reactivity during intergroup conflict in wild chimpanzees (2017) · cites this paper as [4]
In the citing paper
“Finally, in some studies oxytocin only increases positive perceptions or social motivations toward others (Chang et al., 2012; Shamay-Tsoory et al., 2013) and in other studies it also amplifies pre-existing social motivations or perceptions, whether positive or negative (De Dreu, 2012).”
From Endogenous peripheral oxytocin measures can give insight into the dynamics of social relationships: a review (2014) · cites this paper as De Dreu, 2012
In the citing paper
“As a final effect of oxytocin, it is thought that under certain circumstances, oxytocin may activate a positive feedback system, such that oxytocin may trigger a behavior or motivation, or vice versa. Then, the behavior or motivation may trigger further oxytocin release, which may again initiate more of the behavior (Uvnäs-Moberg, 1998; De Dreu, 2012).”
From Endogenous peripheral oxytocin measures can give insight into the dynamics of social relationships: a review (2014) · cites this paper as De Dreu, 2012
In the citing paper
“There are indications for this in the context of labor during child birth (Russell et al., 2003), and this is hypothesized, for example, in the context of affiliation (Uvnäs-Moberg, 1998) and cooperation (see De Dreu, 2012).”
From Endogenous peripheral oxytocin measures can give insight into the dynamics of social relationships: a review (2014) · cites this paper as De Dreu, 2012
In the citing paper
“oxytocin typically increases cooperation toward those perceived as being in-group members but simultaneously decreases cooperation and increases negative attitudes toward out-group members (see De Dreu, 2012 for a review).”
From Endogenous peripheral oxytocin measures can give insight into the dynamics of social relationships: a review (2014) · cites this paper as De Dreu, 2012
In the citing paper
“In contrast, high oxytocin and high testosterone might induce loyal comradeship required for dangerous or risky group action that individuals are less likely to engage in alone (De Dreu, 2012), such as dare-devil acts or warfare.”
From Endogenous peripheral oxytocin measures can give insight into the dynamics of social relationships: a review (2014) · cites this paper as De Dreu, 2012
In the citing paper
“Since the publication of this study, increasing evidence suggests that OT's function is not always consistent with facilitating social approach, but that administering intranasal OT can also lead to parochial, competitive, and envious behaviors and behaviors that appear to be driven by schadenfreude 16,17,32 , which have an anti-social dimension.”
From A registered replication study on oxytocin and trust (2020) · cites this paper as [16]
In the citing paper
“Research in non-human primates as well as in humans (Bartz et al., 2011; De Dreu, 2012; Guastella et al., 2012; Heinrichs and Domes, 2008; Insel, 2010; MacDonald and Feifel, 2013; Meyer-Lindenberg et al., 2011) suggests that OT might be an important component of the neuroendocrinological regulation of social relationships.”
From Oxytocin and social cognition in rhesus macaques: Implications for understanding and treating human psychopathology (2014) · cites this paper as De Dreu, 2012
In the citing paper
“OXT has been emphasized as an important regulator of fairness, trust, cooperation, and competition in humans (De Dreu, 2012; Kosfeld, Heinrichs, Zak, Fischbacher, & Fehr, 2005; Radke & De Bruijn, 2012; Zak, Stanton, & Ahmadi, 2007).”
From Inequity aversion strategies between marmosets are influenced by partner familiarity and sex but not by oxytocin (2016) · cites this paper as De Dreu, 2012
In the citing paper
“These studies in humans strongly reinforce the view that the relationship between OXT and prosociality is highly sensitive to social context, especially with regard to the relationship quality between social partners (De Dreu, 2012; Everett, Faber, Crockett, & De Dreu, 2015).”
From Inequity aversion strategies between marmosets are influenced by partner familiarity and sex but not by oxytocin (2016) · cites this paper as De Dreu, 2012
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2 of the 144 references couldn’t be matched to a known paper.
Research works printed but not linked: 3
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“…facilitated by OT: face recognition, peer recognition, emotion reading, empathy, trust, and generosity; it enhances communication adaptation by helping to match the partner’s ability to understand (Carter et al., 2020; de Boer et al., 2017; De Dreu, 2012; Hurlemann et al., 2010; Leng et al., 2015).”
Metadata
- Authors
- De Dreu, C. K. W.
- Venue
- Hormones and Behavior
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2012-03
- Volume
- 61
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 419-428
- ISSN
- 0018-506X (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2115705437
- Semantic Scholar
- b82421cb88ce148f928d6ed1f618c1f31b15c26d
- Cited by
- 455
- References
- 144
- Citations by year
- 2026: 7 · 2025: 17 · 2024: 23 · 2023: 38 · 2022: 26 · 2021: 27 · 2020: 37 · 2019: 37 · 2018: 35 · 2017: 47 · 2016: 35 · 2015: 37 · 2014: 42 · 2013: 34 · 2012: 13
- FWCI
- 3.56
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Hormones and Behavior (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- UvA-DARE (University of Amsterdam) (publishedVersion)
- Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Endocrine and Autonomic Systems › Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Evolutionary Game Theory and Cooperation
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Evolutionary Psychology and Human Behavior
- Keywords
- oxytocin, cooperation, in-group favoritism, intergroup competition, social categorization, trust, amygdala, empathy, vasopressin, social behavior
- MeSH terms
- Competitive Behavior, Cooperative Behavior, Discrimination, Psychological, Empathy, Fear, Group Processes, Humans, Love, Oxytocin, Social Behavior, Recognition, Psychology, Trust
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