De Dreu and colleagues (2010) investigated whether oxytocin influences cooperation within groups and conflict between groups. In three double-blind placebo-controlled experiments, male participants self-administered either intranasal oxytocin or a placebo. Each participant was then placed in an in-group and made a series of decisions with financial consequences for themselves, their in-group and a competing out-group. Compared with placebo, oxytocin increased in-group trust and cooperation. Oxytocin also increased defensive aggression towards the competing out-group, but it did not increase offensive aggression. The researchers interpreted the findings as showing that oxytocin supports 'parochial altruism': a 'tend and defend' response that benefits the in-group and protects it against a threatening out-group.
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References: De Dreu, C. K. W., Greer, L. L., Handgraaf, M. J. J., Shalvi, S., Van Kleef, G. A., Baas, M., Ten Velden, F. S., Van Dijk, E. and Feith, S. W. W., 2010. 'The neuropeptide oxytocin regulates parochial altruism in intergroup conflict among humans.' Science, 328(5984), pp. 1408-1411. source adapted.
Discuss the following study with reference to two or more of the following concepts: bias, causality, measurement, and/or responsibility.
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De Dreu and colleagues’ study can be discussed particularly effectively through causality, measurement and bias, with responsibility also relevant because of how easily the findings can be overstated. Overall, the study provides relatively strong evidence that intranasal oxytocin affected behaviour in this specific lab