Oxytocin increases generosity in humans

The first studies to report intranasal OT effects in humans were done in males only, showing a role for OT in trust and processing of socially relevant information.

“The first studies to report intranasal OT effects in humans were done in males only, showing a role for OT in trust and in the processing of socially relevant information”

Exogenously administered oxytocin enhances cooperative behaviour between related animals, and behaviours associated with trust and generosity between unrelated humans.

“If exogenously administered, oxytocin enhances cooperative behaviour [22,23] between related animals, and behaviours associated with trust [24][25][26] and generosity [27] between unrelated humans.”

In a prior study, intranasal oxytocin significantly increased transfer amounts in the Ultimatum game compared to placebo, whereas no effect in the Dictator Game was observed.

“A recent study by Zak et al.,[31] had subjects indicate transfer amounts for both the DG and the Ultimatum game (where the recipient has the opportunity to refuse the allocation, in which case both players receive zero) after undergoing intranasal administration of OT. Oxytocin significantly increased transfer amounts in the Ultimatum game as compared to placebo, whereas no effect in the DG was ob”

Studies on humans have established a link between OXT treatment and an increased willingness to cooperate, to act generously, and an increased expectation that others cooperate.

“Studies on humans have established a link between OXT treatment and an increased willingness to cooperate, to act generously, and an increased expectation that others cooperate (Barraza, McCullough, Ahmadi, & Zak, 2011; Israel, Weisel, Ebstein, & Bornstein, 2012; Zak et al., 2007).”

The positive effects of OT on social cognition may only be observed when the tasks demand a binding relationship in which reward contingencies are congruent between two players, where they form a partnership by becoming stake holders of common interest.

“The positive effects of OT on social cognition may only be observed when the tasks demand a binding relationship in which reward contingencies are congruent between two players, where they form a partnership by becoming stake holders of common interest (Barraza et al., 2011; Kosfeld et al., 2005; Zak et al., 2007).”

Intranasally delivered oxytocin can increase trust or generosity in economic games.

“These studies have shown that intranasally delivered oxytocin can increase trust or generosity in economic games (Kosfeld et al., 2005, Zak et al., 2007)”

Oxytocin can facilitate appetitive approach behaviors, such as interpersonal trust and generosity, pair bonding and maternal behavior, and emotional empathy and face recognition.

“While OT can facilitate appetitive approach behaviors, such as interpersonal trust and generosity (Kosfeld et al., 2005; Zak et al., 2007), pair bonding and maternal behavior (Strathearn et al., 2009; Scheele et al., 2012) and emotional empathy and face recognition (Hurlemann et al., 2010; Marsh et al., 2010)”