The impact of oxytocin administration on charitable donating is moderated by experiences of parental love-withdrawal

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

The average amount of donated money was 2.89 Euros (SD = 2.86, range 0.00-15.00).

“The average amount of donated money was 2.89 Euros (SD = 2.86, range 0.00–15.00).”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Forty-six participants donated some money (81%).

“Forty-six participants donated some money (81%).”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

Mean scores for love-withdrawal and for concern over mistakes were M = 49.38, SD = 12.49, and M = 23.12, SD = 6.28, respectively.

“Mean scores for love-withdrawal and for concern over mistakes were M = 49.38, SD = 12.49, and M = 23.12, SD = 6.28, respectively.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Donating was not associated with concern over mistakes.

“nor with concern over mistakes, r(55) = 0.14, p = 0.30.”

May combine two claims.

Love-withdrawal was unrelated to participants' guess of their condition and the correctness of their guess.

“Love-withdrawal was unrelated to participants’ guess of their condition (p = 0.93) and the correctness of their guess (p = 0.96).”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

Age was not related to love-withdrawal, concern over mistakes, or donation.

“Age was not related to love-withdrawal, concern over mistakes, or donation.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Concern over mistakes was related to love-withdrawal.

“Concern over mistakes was related to love-withdrawal [r (55) = 0.29, p = 0.03], and therefore included in the analyses as a covariate.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Participants guessed their condition correctly somewhat more often than chance (adjusted standardized residual 2.7).

“Although participants guessed their condition correctly somewhat more often than chance (adjusted standardized residual 2.7), including participants’ guessing about the condition or the correctness of their guess, menstrual cycle, and use of oral contraceptives did not yield different results.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

In a recent between-subjects randomized control study with another sample, individuals less often used excessive force in the oxytocin condition, but only when they experienced low levels of parental harsh discipline; no effect of oxytocin was found for individuals who were disciplined harshly.

“We demonstrated that individuals less often used excessive force in the oxytocin condition, but only when they experienced low levels of parental harsh discipline – no effect of oxytocin was found for individuals who were disciplined harshly (Bakermans-Kranenburg et al., in press).”

• cites Bakermans-Kranenburg et al., in pressNot checked yet

  Not checked in the free run.

• AssumptionRests on an assumption: Excessive force as assessed with the dynamometer is an index for heightened reactivity to negative (infant) stimuli.

May combine two claims.

Type of placebo (saline versus carrier minus the neuropeptide) did not moderate the awareness outcomes, nor did design (between- versus within-subjects) make a difference.

“Type of placebo (saline versus carrier minus the neuropeptide) did not moderate the awareness outcomes, nor did design (between- versus within-subjects) make a difference.”

May combine two claims.

In some of the experiments, a significant majority of participants guessed wrong, showing that in general it is rather difficult for participants to know whether they received oxytocin or placebo.

“In some of the experiments a significant majority of participants guessed wrong, showing that in general it is rather difficult for participants to know whether they received oxytocin or placebo.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

In previous studies on donating behavior in singletons and twins, differences in donating were partly determined by situational determinants and by shared environment, but genetic influences seemed to be absent.

“In previous studies on donating behavior in singletons and twins we found that differences in donating were partly determined by situational determinants and by shared environment but genetic influences seemed to be absent (Van IJzendoorn et al., 2010a).”

• cites Van IJzendoorn et al., 2010aNot checked yet

  Not checked in the free run.

Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

Individual differences in early caregiving experiences may moderate oxytocin's positive effects.

“individual differences in early caregiving experiences may moderate its positive effects (Bartz et al., 2011).”

• cites Bartz et al., 2011Not checked yet

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May combine two claims.

Oxytocin has been implicated in a variety of prosocial processes, but most of this work has used social dilemma type tasks to evaluate oxytocin's prosocial effects.

“Oxytocin has been implicated in a variety of prosocial processes but most of this work has used social dilemma type tasks to evaluate oxytocin’s prosocial effects (for a review, see Bartz et al., 2011).”

• cites Bartz et al., 2011Not checked yet

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Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable).

If individuals donate from their hard-earned money to the cause of a well-known charity, that behavior is a phenotypical expression of underlying altruism.

“If individuals donate from their hard-earned money to the cause of a well-known charity, e.g., UNICEF, that behavior is a phenotypical expression of underlying altruism (Barraza et al., 2011).”

• cites Barraza et al., 2011Not checked yet

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Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

A number of studies found that oxytocin facilitates prosocial behavior.

“A number of studies found that oxytocin facilitates prosocial behavior (for a meta-analysis, see Van IJzendoorn and Bakermans-Kranenburg, in press)”

• cites Van IJzendoorn and Bakermans-Kranenburg, in pressNot checked yet

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Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

Oxytocin's positive role in parenting and interpersonal trust has been documented.

“In particular its positive role in parenting (Feldman et al., 2007; Naber et al., 2010) and interpersonal trust (Baumgartner et al., 2008; Theodoridou et al., 2009; De Dreu et al., 2010; Declerck et al., 2010) has been documented.”

• cites Feldman et al., 2007Not checked yet

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• cites Naber et al., 2010Not checked yet

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• cites Baumgartner et al., 2008Not checked yet

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Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.

We controlled for concern over mistakes and other variables as our main focus is the influence of oxytocin administration on charitable donating potentially moderated by parental love-withdrawal.

“We controlled for these variables as our main focus is the influence of oxytocin administration on charitable donating potentially moderated by parental love-withdrawal.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

To minimize influences of diurnal variations in oxytocin levels, all sessions took place in the afternoon.

“To minimize influences of diurnal variations in oxytocin levels, all sessions took place in the afternoon (starting between 12.00 and 15.00).”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Cronbach's alpha for the Concern over Mistakes subscale was 0.85 for the current sample.

“Cronbach’s alpha was 0.85 for the current sample.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

Individuals were found to be more willing to maintain involved in a social-interactive computer game after oxytocin administration, unless they were confronted with a manipulation that made them feel rejected.

“Individuals were found to be more willing to maintain involved in a social-interactive computer game after oxytocin administration, unless they were confronted with a manipulation that made them feel rejected (Alvares et al., 2010).”

• cites Alvares et al., 2010Not checked yet

  Not checked in the free run.

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

The somewhat skewed distribution of donated money was transformed to normal using a square root transformation, showing no outliers.

“The somewhat skewed distribution was transformed to normal using a square root transformation, showing no outliers (z < 3.29, Tabachnick and Fidell, 2001).”

• cites Tabachnick and Fidell, 2001Not checked yet

  Not checked in the free run.

Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.

During the second session with the donating task a random half of the participants received oxytocin, and the other half the placebo in a between-subjects design.

“Thus during the second session with the donating task a random half of the participants received oxytocin, and the other half the placebo in a between-subjects design.”

Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

Effects of oxytocin administration were moderated by participants' attachment representations.

“Bartz et al., 2010b; see also Bartz et al., in press) found that effects of oxytocin administration were moderated by participants’ attachment representations.”

• cites Bartz et al., 2010bNot checked yet

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• cites Bartz et al., in pressNot checked yet

  Not checked in the free run.

Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

Parental love-withdrawal is one of the components of insensitive parenting leading to insecure attachments.

“From previous attachment research we know that parental love-withdrawal is one of the components of insensitive parenting leading to insecure attachments (Bowlby, 1973; Van IJzendoorn, 1997).”

• cites Bowlby, 1973Not checked yet

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• cites Van IJzendoorn, 1997Not checked yet

  Not checked in the free run.

May combine two claims.

These feelings may hinder empathic concern for others in distress, and thus lead to lower levels of altruistic behavior.

“These feelings may hinder empathic concern for others in distress, and thus lead to lower levels of altruistic behavior (Koenig et al., 2004).”

• cites Koenig et al., 2004Not checked yet

  Not checked in the free run.

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Oxytocin administration has been shown to increase donations to a charity among male students.

“Similarly, oxytocin administration has been shown to increase donations to a charity among male students (Barraza et al., 2011).”

• cites Barraza et al., 2011Not checked yet

  Not checked in the free run.

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

The parental love-withdrawal scale was unidimensional in the larger sample and normally distributed in the selected sub-sample.

“Scores for maternal and paternal love-withdrawal were summed, and the resulting scale was unidimensional in the larger sample and normally distributed in the selected sub-sample.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Meta-analytic data did not support the hypothesis of lower out-group trust after oxytocin administration.

“Meta-analytic data however did not support the hypothesis of lower out-group trust after oxytocin administration (Van IJzendoorn and Bakermans-Kranenburg, in press; see also Chen et al., 2011).”

• cites Van IJzendoorn and Bakermans-Kranenburg, in pressNot checked yet

  Not checked in the free run.

• cites Chen et al., 2011Not checked yet

  Not checked in the free run.

Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.

All participants received both substances once in random order in a double blind experiment.

“All participants received both substances once in random order in a double blind experiment.”

Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.

Participants were told that they would receive oxytocin during one session and a placebo during the other, but that the order was not known even to the experimenter.

“Participants were told that they would receive oxytocin during one session and a placebo during the other, but that the order was not known even to the experimenter.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

The donating task was standardized, without the presence of an experimenter, and with a fixed amount of money in a fixed number of notes and coins.

“Thus, the donating task was standardized, without the presence of an experimenter, and with a fixed amount of money in a fixed number of notes and coins.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

The compensation was standardized so that all participants were working with the same amount of money and the same denominations.

“The compensation was standardized so that all participants were working with the same amount of money and the same denominations since this could affect their charitable donations.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

The parental love-withdrawal scale has been successfully used in a study on ERP responses to facial expressions with performance feedback.

“The scale has been successfully used in a study on ERP responses to facial expressions with performance feedback (Huffmeijer et al., 2011).”

• cites Huffmeijer et al., 2011Not checked yet

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Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

At the end of the session participants were asked to guess whether they had received oxytocin or placebo.

“At the end of this session they were asked to guess whether during that session they had received oxytocin or placebo.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Love-withdrawal is a very effective means to force the child to comply with parental wishes.

“It is a very effective means to force the child to comply with parental wishes, as is the use of psychological maltreatment (Assor et al., 2004; Elliot and Thrash, 2004).”

• cites Assor et al., 2004Not checked yet

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• cites Elliot and Thrash, 2004Not checked yet

  Not checked in the free run.

Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.

Less anxiously attached individuals remembered their mother as more caring and close after oxytocin versus placebo, but more anxiously attached individuals remembered their mother as less caring after oxytocin versus placebo.

“Less anxiously attached individuals remembered their mother as more caring and close after oxytocin (versus placebo) but more anxiously attached individuals remembered their mother as less caring after oxytocin (versus placebo).”

May combine two claims.

Parental use of love-withdrawal has been associated with high concern over mistakes, low emotional well-being, and feelings of rejection and resentment toward the parents.

“Parental use of love-withdrawal has been associated with high concern over mistakes, low emotional well-being, and feelings of rejection and resentment toward the parents (Goldstein and Heaven, 2000; Assor et al., 2004; Elliot and Thrash, 2004; Renk et al., 2006).”

• cites Goldstein and Heaven, 2000Not checked yet

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• cites Assor et al., 2004Not checked yet

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• cites Elliot and Thrash, 2004Not checked yet

  Not checked in the free run.

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Some studies have related oxytocin to empathy.

“In addition, some studies have related oxytocin to empathy (Rodrigues et al., 2009; Hurlemann et al., 2010; Riem et al., 2011; but see Singer et al., 2008).”

• cites Rodrigues et al., 2009Not checked yet

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• cites Hurlemann et al., 2010Not checked yet

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• cites Riem et al., 2011Not checked yet

  Not checked in the free run.

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

When used excessively, love-withdrawal is considered psychological maltreatment.

“When used excessively, it is considered psychological maltreatment (Euser et al., 2010).”

• cites Euser et al., 2010Not checked yet

  Not checked in the free run.

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Cronbach's alpha for the parental love-withdrawal scale was 0.87 for the current sample.

“Cronbach’s alpha was 0.87 for the current sample.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Oxytocin administration elevated the level of trust in members of the in-group.

“Moreover, oxytocin administration elevated the level of trust in members of the in-group (Van IJzendoorn and Bakermans-Kranenburg, in press).”

• cites Van IJzendoorn and Bakermans-Kranenburg, in pressNot checked yet

  Not checked in the free run.

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Two subjects did not complete the donating task, resulting in an effective sample of 57 participants.

“Two subjects did not complete the donating task (because they did not participate in the second session, in which donating took place), resulting in an effective sample of 57 participants.”

May combine two claims.

An fMRI experiment showed that oxytocin administration reduced activation in the amygdala and increased activation in regions involved in empathy (insula and inferior frontal gyrus).

“a fMRI experiment examining neural responses to infant crying (Riem et al., 2011) showed that oxytocin administration reduced activation in the neural circuitry for anxiety and aversion (amygdala), and increased activation in regions involved in empathy (insula and inferior frontal gyrus).”

• cites Riem et al., 2011Not checked yet

  Not checked in the free run.

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Including the interaction between condition and concern over mistakes in the third step of the regression did not lead to a significant contribution to the regression equation.

“Including the interaction between condition and concern over mistakes in the third step of the regression did not lead to a significant contribution to the regression equation, β = −0.07, p = 0.60.”

May combine two claims.

The UNICEF video shows a child who is not part of the participants' in-group, for which oxytocin studies have shown the strongest trust-enhancing effects.

“It should be noted that the UNICEF video shows a child who is not part of the participants’ in-group, for which oxytocin studies have shown the strongest trust-enhancing effects (Van IJzendoorn and Bakermans-Kranenburg, in press).”

• cites Van IJzendoorn and Bakermans-Kranenburg, in pressNot checked yet

  Not checked in the free run.

May combine two claims.

Oxytocin stimulates empathic, prosocial behavior, but not in every individual.

“A picture emerges that suggests that oxytocin stimulates empathic, prosocial behavior, but not in every individual.”

Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

Severe neglect experienced by children growing up in orphanages may lead to central defects in peptide synthesis.

“As Fries et al. (2005) argued severe neglect experienced by children growing up in orphanages may lead to central defects in peptide synthesis.”

• cites Fries et al. (2005)Not checked yet

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Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

De Dreu et al. (2011) suggested that oxytocin-induced goodwill would be limited to one's in-group and not extended to out-groups.

“De Dreu et al. (2011) and colleagues suggested that oxytocin-induced goodwill would be limited to one’s in-group and not extended to out-groups.”

• cites De Dreu et al. (2011)Not checked yet

  Not checked in the free run.

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

The use of self-reported love-withdrawal experiences is a limitation of our study.

“We note the use of self-reported love-withdrawal experiences as a limitation of our study.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Results were similar when concern over mistakes was not included in the analysis.

“Results were similar when concern over mistakes was not included in the analysis [overall regression model F(3, 53) = 3.57, p = 0.02, interaction between condition and love-withdrawal β = 0.38, p = 0.004].”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

In Barraza et al.'s study, no particular motivational stimulus such as a video-clip was used to trigger donating behavior.

“In this study no particular motivational stimulus such as a video-clip was used to trigger donating behavior.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based).

We were able to differentiate love-withdrawal from concern over mistakes so that love-withdrawal was not identical to high or low motivation to please the experimenter by donating a certain amount of money.

“We were however able to differentiate love-withdrawal from concern over mistakes so that love-withdrawal was not identical to high or low motivation to please the experimenter by donating a certain amount of money.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

In the current study, participants guessed their condition (oxytocin versus placebo) correctly somewhat more often than chance.

“Furthermore, in the current study participants guessed their condition (oxytocin versus placebo) correctly somewhat more often than chance.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Concern over mistakes was included in the analyses as a covariate.

“Concern over mistakes was related to love-withdrawal [r (55) = 0.29, p = 0.03], and therefore included in the analyses as a covariate.”

May combine two claims.

Our results are not inconsistent with the hypothesis of increased goodwill also to out-groups after oxytocin administration, but the effect of oxytocin is limited to participants with supportive backgrounds.

“Our results, however, are not inconsistent with the hypothesis of increased goodwill also to out-groups (i.e., a group of unknown children reached via UNICEF) after oxytocin administration, but the effect of oxytocin is limited to participants with supportive backgrounds.”

May combine two claims.

In male college students, Barraza et al. (2011) found that infusion of 40 IU of oxytocin elevated the amount of donated money to a familiar charity (Red Cross) but not to an unfamiliar charity (Red Crescent).

“In male college students Barraza et al. (2011) found that infusion of 40 IU of oxytocin elevated the amount of donated money to a familiar charity (Red Cross) but not to an unfamiliar charity (Red Crescent).”

• cites Barraza et al. (2011)Not checked yet

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Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

Situational and personal factors might modulate the effects of oxytocin on perception and behavior.

“Situational and personal factors might modulate the effects of oxytocin on perception and behavior (Bartz et al., 2010, 2011, in press; De Dreu et al., 2010).”

• cites Bartz et al., 2010, 2011, in pressNot checked yet

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• cites De Dreu et al., 2010Not checked yet

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May combine two claims.

In Bartz et al. (2010), after oxytocin administration, anxious and rejected individuals saw past social relationships more negatively than usual, whereas secure individuals saw them more positively.

“Bartz et al. (2010) showed that individuals who feel anxious and rejected are more inclined to see past social relationships in a more negative light than usual after oxytocin administration, whereas subjects who feel secure perceive social relationships in an even more positive light after oxytocin administration.”

• cites Bartz et al. (2010)Not checked yet

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Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable). May combine two claims.

Our findings support proposals that interventions with oxytocin aiming at empathic concern should be combined with psychosocial interventions or directed at individuals susceptible to such interventions because of their past childhood experiences with loving parents.

“Our findings support proposals that interventions with oxytocin aiming at empathic concern (pharmacotherapy) should be combined with psychosocial interventions (Guastella et al., 2009; Bartz et al., 2011; Van IJzendoorn and Bakermans-Kranenburg, in press) or directed at individuals susceptible to such interventions because of their past childhood experiences with loving parents.”

• cites Guastella et al., 2009Not checked yet

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• cites Bartz et al., 2011Not checked yet

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• cites Van IJzendoorn and Bakermans-Kranenburg, in pressNot checked yet

  Not checked in the free run.

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

Although our study is a randomized control trial, it might not exclude the possibility that parents using high levels of love-withdrawal are genetically biased to lower oxytocin sensitivity, which they might have transmitted to their daughters, who would then be less susceptible to effects of oxytocin.

“Lastly, although our study is a randomized control trial it might not exclude the possibility that parents using high levels of love-withdrawal are genetically biased to lower oxytocin sensitivity (e.g., fewer oxytocin receptors) which they might have transmitted to their daughters who in their turn would be neurobiologically less susceptible to effects of oxytocin because of their inherited neuro”

• cites Fries et al. (2005)Not checked yet

  Not checked in the free run.

• cites Van IJzendoorn et al., 2010bNot checked yet

  Not checked in the free run.

May combine two claims.

Oxytocin makes some individuals more generous, but the empathogenic effect seems limited to those who feel accepted by their parents because of who they are instead of what they do.

“We conclude that oxytocin makes some individuals more generous, but the empathogenic effect seems limited to those who feel accepted by their parents because of who they are instead of what they do.”

• AssumptionRests on an assumption: Donating money is an index of altruism.