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Rijnders RJ, van den Hoogen S, van Honk J, Terburg D, Kempes MM. Would you? Effects of oxytocin on moral choices in forensic psychopathic patients. COMPREHENSIVE PSYCHONEUROENDOCRINOLOGY 2024; 19:100245. [PMID: 39040873 PMCID: PMC11262190 DOI: 10.1016/j.cpnec.2024.100245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2023] [Revised: 06/20/2024] [Accepted: 06/20/2024] [Indexed: 07/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Psychopaths are suggested to be more likely to favor utilitarian outcomes over non-utilitarian (i.e., deontological) choices. Here we re-test this hypothesis and investigate whether oxytocin, a hormone associated with empathy, can counter this utilitarian effect. Forensic psychopathic patients and non-psychopathic controls participated in a sacrificial moral decision-making paradigm. Psychopathic patients performed the task in a double-blind cross-over placebo-controlled oxytocin administration paradigm. We found no evidence for psychopathic patients to act more utilitarian (or sacrificial) or any effect of oxytocin administration. Psychopathic traits within the control group, particularly traits associated with lack of empathy and failure to consider consequences, were however associated with more utilitarian choices, but only when these actions were low in emotion. In contrast, psychopathy severity in psychopathic patients, particularly impulsivity-related traits, predicts deontological choices, but only in highly emotional actions. Thus, although psychopathic traits do predict utilitarianism when emotional investment is low, this is not the case in full-blown psychopathy. Instead, there is a link between impulsivity and deontological choices in psychopathic patients, but only when emotional investment is high, and self-interest is not at stake. These preliminary results are discussed to whether utilitarian outcomes align with the personal goals of psychopathic individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ronald J.P. Rijnders
- Netherlands Institute for Forensic Psychiatry and Psychology, Forensic Observation Clinic “Pieter Baan Centrum”, Carl Barksweg 3, 1336, ZL, Almere, the Netherlands
- Utrecht University, Faculty of Social Sciences, Department of Psychology, Heidelberglaan 8, 3584, CS, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Sophie van den Hoogen
- Netherlands Institute for Forensic Psychiatry and Psychology, Forensic Observation Clinic “Pieter Baan Centrum”, Carl Barksweg 3, 1336, ZL, Almere, the Netherlands
| | - Jack van Honk
- Utrecht University, Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Department of Psychology, Heidelberglaan 8, 3584, CS, Utrecht, the Netherlands
- University of Cape Town, Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health J-Block, Groote Schuur Hospital, Observatory, 7925, Cape Town, South Africa
- University of Cape Town, Institute of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine, Anzio Rd, Observatory, 7925, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - David Terburg
- Utrecht University, Faculty of Social Sciences, Department of Psychology, Heidelberglaan 8, 3584, CS, Utrecht, the Netherlands
- University of Cape Town, Institute of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine, Anzio Rd, Observatory, 7925, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Maaike M. Kempes
- Netherlands Institute for Forensic Psychiatry and Psychology, Department of Science and Education, Herman Gorterstraat 5, 3511, EW, Utrecht, the Netherlands
- Leiden University, Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Institute of Education and Child Studies, Wassenaarseweg 52, 2333, AK, Leiden, the Netherlands
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Szabó P, Bonet S, Hetényi R, Hanna D, Kovács Z, Prisztóka G, Križalkovičová Z, Szentpéteri J. Systematic review: pain, cognition, and cardioprotection-unpacking oxytocin's contributions in a sport context. Front Physiol 2024; 15:1393497. [PMID: 38915776 PMCID: PMC11194439 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2024.1393497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2024] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 06/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction This systematic review investigates the interplay between oxytocin and exercise; in terms of analgesic, anti-inflammatory, pro-regenerative, and cardioprotective effects. Furthermore, by analyzing measurement methods, we aim to improve measurement validity and reliability. Methods Utilizing PRISMA, GRADE, and MECIR protocols, we examined five databases with a modified SPIDER search. Including studies on healthy participants, published within the last 20 years, based on keywords "oxytocin," "exercise" and "measurement," 690 studies were retrieved initially (455 unique records). After excluding studies of clinically identifiable diseases, and unpublished and reproduction-focused studies, 175 studies qualified for the narrative cross-thematic and structural analysis. Results The analysis resulted in five categories showing the reciprocal impact of oxytocin and exercise: Exercise (50), Physiology (63), Environment (27), Social Context (65), and Stress (49). Exercise-induced oxytocin could promote tissue regeneration, with 32 studies showing its analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects, while 14 studies discussed memory and cognition. Furthermore, empathy-associated OXTR rs53576 polymorphism might influence team sports performance. Since dietary habits and substance abuse can impact oxytocin secretion too, combining self-report tests and repeated salivary measurements may help achieve precision. Discussion Oxytocin's effect on fear extinction and social cognition might generate strategies for mental training, and technical, and tactical development in sports. Exercise-induced oxytocin can affect the amount of stress experienced by athletes, and their response to it. However, oxytocin levels could depend on the type of sport in means of contact level, exercise intensity, and duration. The influence of oxytocin on athletes' performance and recovery could have been exploited due to its short half-life. Examining oxytocin's complex interactions with exercise paves the way for future research and application in sports science, psychology, and medical disciplines. Systematic Review Registration https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=512184, identifier CRD42024512184.
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Affiliation(s)
- Péter Szabó
- Faculty of Sciences, Institute of Sports Science and Physical Education, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
- Faculty of Humanities, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
- Medical School, Institute of Transdisciplinary Discoveries, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Sara Bonet
- Faculty of Medicine Osijek, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Osijek, Croatia
| | - Roland Hetényi
- RoLink Biotechnology Kft., Pécs, Hungary
- Hungarian National Blood Transfusion Service, Budapest, Hungary
- Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
- National Virology Laboratory, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Dániel Hanna
- RoLink Biotechnology Kft., Pécs, Hungary
- Hungarian National Blood Transfusion Service, Budapest, Hungary
- Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
- National Virology Laboratory, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Zsófia Kovács
- Faculty of Sciences, Institute of Sports Science and Physical Education, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Gyöngyvér Prisztóka
- Faculty of Sciences, Institute of Sports Science and Physical Education, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Zuzana Križalkovičová
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Institute of Physiotherapy and Sport Science, Department of Sport Science, Pécs, Hungary
| | - József Szentpéteri
- Medical School, Institute of Transdisciplinary Discoveries, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
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Freitas CCMDC, Osório FDL. Moral judgment and hormones: A systematic literature review. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0265693. [PMID: 35385511 PMCID: PMC8985980 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0265693] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2021] [Accepted: 03/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
This systematic review of the literature aims to evaluate possible associations between moral judgment and hormones. The electronic databases PsycINFO, PubMed, Scielo, Web of Science, Scopus, and LILACS were used. Twenty studies with different methodological designs were reviewed, covering the hormones cortisol, oxytocin, and testosterone, assessing aspects related to polymorphisms in receptor genes, endogenous levels, and exogenous administration. Taken together, the reviewed studies showed a trend towards an association between hormones and moral judgment, with important specificities involving biological, environmental, and individual aspects. Endogenous levels of cortisol, released under stress, showed negative associations with altruistic and utilitarian decisions only in highly emotionally charged dilemmas. Oxytocin receptor gene polymorphisms (rs2268498, rs237889, and rs2254298) and acute administration of this hormone were associated with variability in moral judgment, with sex as an important moderating variable. Testosterone studies have tended to show a positive association with utilitarian moral judgments, particularly in female and in individuals with low prenatal exposure to this hormone. Knowing how hormones influence moral judgment may help expand our understanding of the plurality of human behavior. However, this area of research is new and still little explored, which does not allow for conclusions with a high level of evidence. Subsequent research will benefit from methodological improvements to extend current findings.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Flávia de Lima Osório
- Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- National Institute for Science and Technology (INCT-TM, CNPq), Brasília, Brazil
- * E-mail:
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He L, Liu J, Fan Y, Leng J, Wang Q, Yang C, zhang R, Guo W, Zhang J, Gong P. The OXTR rs53576 Impacts Moral Permissibility of Attempted but Failed Harms in Populations of Students and Prisoners. Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci 2022; 17:923-928. [PMID: 35275212 PMCID: PMC9527464 DOI: 10.1093/scan/nsac015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2021] [Revised: 01/23/2022] [Accepted: 02/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Previous research has highlighted the roles of oxytocin in empathy and altruistic behaviors. Based on these findings, recent studies have examined the association between the oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR) and outcome-based moral judgment with sacrificial dilemmas (e.g. runaway trolley case). However, little is known about the relationships between OXTR polymorphisms and intent-based moral judgment of harms (e.g. attempted but failed harm or intentionally committed harm). This study investigated the association between the OXTR rs53576 and intent-based moral judgment in college students (N = 544) and prisoners (N = 540). Results indicated that both students and prisoners with the GG genotype of OXTR rs53576 rated attempted but failed harm as less permissible than those with the AA and AG genotypes. These findings highlight the role of the OXTR gene in intent-based moral judgment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linlin He
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory for Animal Conservation, Northwest University, Xi’an 710069, China
- College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi’an 710069, China
| | - Jinting Liu
- School of Psychology, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
| | - Yuhe Fan
- College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi’an 710069, China
| | - Junhui Leng
- School of Psychology, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
| | - Quanhe Wang
- College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi’an 710069, China
| | - Cuimei Yang
- School of Psychology, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
| | - Rui zhang
- College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi’an 710069, China
| | - Wenxuan Guo
- College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi’an 710069, China
| | - Jieting Zhang
- School of Psychology, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
| | - Pingyuan Gong
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory for Animal Conservation, Northwest University, Xi’an 710069, China
- College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi’an 710069, China
- College of Medicine, Northwest University, Xi’an 710069, China
- Institute of Population and Health, Northwest University, Xi’an 710069, China
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