Cited by 282Neuroendocrine regulation and behaviorExperimental Behavioral Economics StudiesEvolutionary Psychology and Human Behavior

The neurobiology of trust

ZAK, PAUL J., KURZBAN, ROBERT, MATZNER, WILLIAM T.·2004·Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences

Abstract

This is the first report that endogenous oxytocin in humans is related to social behaviors, which is consistent with a large animal literature. Subjects are put into a social dilemma in which absent communication, cooperative behavior can benefit both parties randomly assigned to a dyad. The dilemma arises because one participant must make a monetary sacrifice to signal the degree of trust in the other before the other's behavioral response is known. We show that receipt of a signal of trust is associated with a higher level of peripheral oxytocin than that in subjects receiving a random monetary transfer of the same average amount. Oxytocin levels were also related to trustworthy behavior (sharing a greater proportion of the monetary gains). We conclude that oxytocin may be part of the human physiology that motivates cooperation.

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Crossref · 10.1196/annals.1314.025

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Authors
ZAK, P. J., KURZBAN, R., & MATZNER, W. T.
Affiliations
  • Claremont Graduate University (US)
  • University of Pennsylvania (US)
Corresponding author
ZAK, PAUL J.
Venue
Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2004-12
Volume
1032
Issue
1
Pages
224-227
ISSN
  • 0077-8923 (ISSN-L)
  • 1749-6632
OpenAlex
W2016557481
Cited by
282
References
15
Citations by year
2026: 3 · 2025: 12 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 10 · 2021: 11 · 2020: 9 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 19 · 2017: 13 · 2016: 7 · 2015: 16 · 2014: 16 · 2013: 21 · 2012: 20
FWCI
15.56
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences (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, trust, cooperation, social dilemmas, social behavior, monetary exchange
MeSH terms
Decision Making, Humans, Interpersonal Relations, Oxytocin

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