Year: 2015
Type: dissertation
Abstract: Evidence suggests the existence of a possible correlation between oxytocin levels, degree of empathy and in turn prosocial behavior. To further our understanding, the current study examined the hypothesis whether donating behaviour could be explained by an influence of endogenous oxytocin on empathic concern. Thirty undergraduate 18-30 year old female students were selected from a larger study (van IJzendoorn, Huffmeijer, Alink, Brakermans-Kranenburg & Tops, 2011), which consisted of two experimental sessions. The current study conducted a secondary analysis of some of the data gathered during the second session of the original study, specifically from the participants who received a saline solution in the second experimental session. Levels of endogenous oxytocin in saliva samples, measures of empathy (interpersonal reactivity index questionnaire) and donations to measure donating behavior; were gathered in the original study and were also analyzed in the current study. Several simple regression analyses as well as a multiple regression analysis were conducted to test the hypothesis. The findings revealed no significant explanatory power of endogenous oxytocin and empathic concern on donating behaviour. Thus, the hypothesis was not confirmed. Both the use of an out-group individual as a recipient of the donations and the fact that all participants were likely highly socially proficient and empathic, may explain the null results. For future research it is recommended to use a more diverse sample including participants with both high and low social skills and to compare donating behaviour to in-group and out-group recipients. Finally, the differences between the prosocial effects of endogenous versus exogenous oxytocin levels should be determined.
Author: Soler Campillo, Anna
Language: English
Subfield: Endocrine and Autonomic Systems
Field: Neuroscience
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7019945057