1
|
Strojny J, von Dawans B, Schächinger H, Domes G. Hydrocortisone reduces altruistic punishment in healthy men. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2024; 165:107027. [PMID: 38537418 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2024.107027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2023] [Revised: 03/14/2024] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 05/31/2024]
Abstract
Psychosocial stress modulates social cognition and behavior in humans. One potentially mediating factor is cortisol as part of the human endocrine stress response. With a double-blind, placebo-controlled between-subject study design, we tested possible dose-dependent effects of hydrocortisone (0 mg, 5 mg and 20 mg) in 85 healthy males. During a socio-economic decision-making task we measured trust, trustworthiness, sharing, punishment, and non-social risk behavior. Social value orientation (SVO) was also assessed. We observed significantly lower levels of punishment after hydrocortisone, especially in the 20 mg group. Drug-induced salivary cortisol correlated negatively with punishment behavior. None of the other facets of social behavior or the SVO were affected by hydrocortisone. Our results suggest that hydrocortisone reduces the propensity to punish unfair behavior. Future studies are needed to further disentangle the role played by various psychobiological mechanisms within the stress response as well as their complex interplay on social behavior and cognition.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Julia Strojny
- Biological & Clinical Psychology, University of Trier, Germany
| | - Bernadette von Dawans
- Biological & Clinical Psychology, University of Trier, Germany; Institute for Cognitive & Affective Neuroscience, University of Trier, Germany.
| | | | - Gregor Domes
- Biological & Clinical Psychology, University of Trier, Germany; Institute for Cognitive & Affective Neuroscience, University of Trier, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Zhen Z, Wang H, Zhu R, Zhang S, Jin T, Qin S, Liu C. Acute psychosocial stress increases third-party helping but not punishing behavior. Stress 2021; 24:430-441. [PMID: 32951512 DOI: 10.1080/10253890.2020.1825672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite extensive research on the effects of stress on the brain and behaviors, there is a debate whether stress promotes prosocial behaviors, especially acute stress due to intricate costly punishment in the ultimatum game. Therefore, the present study introduced an irrelevant third party to examine how acute stress and the triggered cortisol influence third parties' punishing and helping behaviors as more convincing altruistic behaviors. The 65 participants were exposed to a psychosocial stressor (n = 33) or a control condition (n = 32). Afterwards, two third-party intervention tasks (a token allocation task and criminal scenario judgment task) were completed, during which the participants, as an "irrelevant" third party, could choose whether to sacrifice their own interests to help the victim or punish the transgressor. Participants' affective states, heart rate, and salivary cortisol were repeatedly measured throughout the experiment. Results showed that acute stress can lead to more third-party helping behaviors but not more punishing behaviors. Specifically, participants under stress tended to transfer more monetary units to the victim in the token allocation task than the control-group participants, and they tended to help the victim in the scenario task. In contrast, there was no significant difference in punishing behavior between the stressed and control participants. These findings reveal that acute psychosocial stress triggers the "tend and befriend" response, which might reflect the prosocial intuition under acute stress.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhen Zhen
- Psychological Health Education and Counseling Center, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
| | - Huagen Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning and IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
- Center for Collaboration and Innovation in Brain and Learning Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Brain Imaging and Connectomics, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Ruida Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning and IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
- Center for Collaboration and Innovation in Brain and Learning Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Brain Imaging and Connectomics, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Shen Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning and IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
- Center for Collaboration and Innovation in Brain and Learning Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Brain Imaging and Connectomics, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Tao Jin
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning and IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
- Center for Collaboration and Innovation in Brain and Learning Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Brain Imaging and Connectomics, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Shaozheng Qin
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning and IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
- Center for Collaboration and Innovation in Brain and Learning Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Brain Imaging and Connectomics, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Chao Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning and IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
- Center for Collaboration and Innovation in Brain and Learning Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Brain Imaging and Connectomics, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Zhang Q, Ma J, Nater UM. How Cortisol Reactivity Influences Prosocial Decision-Making: The Moderating Role of Sex and Empathic Concern. Front Hum Neurosci 2019; 13:415. [PMID: 32038194 PMCID: PMC6988811 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2019.00415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2019] [Accepted: 11/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The fight and flight theory and the tend-and-befriend theory suggest two opposite behavioral stress responses, and heterogeneous research results revealed the importance of taking sex into account. The experiment was designed to investigate the effect of stress-related cortisol reactivity on subsequent prosocial decision-making behaviors, and the moderating role of sex and empathic concern (EC) in the process. Sixty-one healthy students (34 women, 27 men) underwent the Trier Social Stress Test for Groups (TSST-G) or the control condition. Subsequently, participants completed three economic tasks-the dictator game, the ultimatum game, and the third-party compensation game. Statistical analyses revealed a significant main effect of cortisol reactivity on individuals' third-party compensation behaviorssex. A sex-specific effect of stress-related cortisol change on prosocial behaviors was found, with men behaving more generously in the dictator game as stress-related cortisol reactivity increased. Furthermore, the level of EC was found to moderate the association between stress-related cortisol change and prosocial behaviors, that individuals with a low level of EC reported more generosity and third-party compensation behaviors. Overall, the present study contributes to a better understanding of the behavioral stress responses, that individuals whose hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis are highly activated in response to stress would exhibit tend-and-befriend responses, but only among men and those with a low level of EC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Qionghan Zhang
- Department of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.,Department of Psychology, Philipps-University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Jianhong Ma
- Department of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Urs M Nater
- Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Pfattheicher S, Keller J. A motivational perspective on punishment in social dilemmas. EUROPEAN REVIEW OF SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY 2017. [DOI: 10.1080/10463283.2017.1375662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
|
5
|
Tekieh E, Riahi E, Kazemi M, Sahraei H, Tavakoli H, Aliyary H, Hajinasrollah M, Salehi M, Meftahi G, Saberi M. Role of basal stress hormones and amygdala dimensions in stress coping strategies of male rhesus monkeys in response to a hazard-reward conflict. IRANIAN JOURNAL OF BASIC MEDICAL SCIENCES 2017; 20:951-957. [PMID: 29085588 PMCID: PMC5651482 DOI: 10.22038/ijbms.2017.9120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2017] [Accepted: 05/25/2017] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES In the present study the effect of stress on monkeys that had learned to retrieve food from a five-chamber receptacle, as well as the relationship between their behavior and the serum cortisol and epinephrine levels and relative size of the amygdala was evaluated. MATERIALS AND METHODS Six male rhesus monkeys were individually given access to the food reward orderly. They could easily retrieve the rewards from all chambers except for the chamber 4, which a brief, mild electric shock (3 V) was delivered to them upon touching the chamber's interior. The coping behaviors were video-recorded and analyzed offline. Baseline serum cortisol and epinephrine levels were measured before the experiments using monkey enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit. One week after the behavioral experiment, the monkeys' brains were scanned using magnetic resonance imaging under general anesthesia. The cross-sectional area of the left amygdala in sagittal plane relative to the area of the whole brain in the same slice was evaluated by the planimetric method using ImageJ software. RESULTS Exposure to the distressing condition caused different behavioral responses. Monkeys with higher baseline levels of serum cortisol and epinephrine and larger amygdala behaved more violently in the face of stress, indicating adopting emotion-focused stress-coping strategies. Conversely, those with low plasma epinephrine, moderate cortisol, and smaller amygdala showed perseverative behavior, indicating a problem-focused coping style. CONCLUSION In dealing with the same stress, different responses might be observed from nonhuman primates according to their cortisol and epinephrine levels as well as their amygdala dimensions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Elaheh Tekieh
- Neuroscience Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Esmail Riahi
- Department of Physiology, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Masoomeh Kazemi
- Neuroscience Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hedayat Sahraei
- Neuroscience Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hassan Tavakoli
- Neuroscience Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hamed Aliyary
- Department of Electrical, Biomedical and Mechatronics Engineering, Qazvin Branch, Islamic Azad University, Qazvin, Iran
| | - Mostafa Hajinasrollah
- Animal Core Facility, Reproductive Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Biotechnology, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
| | - Maryam Salehi
- Neuroscience Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Gholamhossein Meftahi
- Neuroscience Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mehdi Saberi
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Shangguan F, Liu T, Liu X, Shi J. The Correlation among Neural Dynamic Processing of Conflict Control, Testosterone and Cortisol Levels in 10-Year-Old Children. Front Psychol 2017; 8:1037. [PMID: 28690571 PMCID: PMC5479902 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2017.01037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2016] [Accepted: 06/06/2017] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Cognitive control is related to goal-directed self-regulation abilities, which is fundamental for human development. Conflict control includes the neural processes of conflict monitoring and conflict resolution. Testosterone and cortisol are essential hormones for the development of cognitive functions. However, there are no studies that have investigated the correlation of these two hormones with conflict control in preadolescents. In this study, we aimed to explore whether testosterone, cortisol, and testosterone/cortisol ratio worked differently for preadolescent's conflict control processes in varied conflict control tasks. Thirty-two 10-year-old children (16 boys and 16 girls) were enrolled. They were instructed to accomplish three conflict control tasks with different conflict dimensions, including the Flanker, Simon, and Stroop tasks, and electrophysiological signals were recorded. Salivary samples were collected from each child. The testosterone and cortisol levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The electrophysiological results showed that the incongruent trials induced greater N2/N450 and P3/SP responses than the congruent trials during neural processes of conflict monitoring and conflict resolution in the Flanker and Stroop tasks. The hormonal findings showed that (1) the testosterone/cortisol ratio was correlated with conflict control accuracy and conflict resolution in the Flanker task; (2) the testosterone level was associated with conflict control performance and neural processing of conflict resolution in the Stroop task; (3) the cortisol level was correlated with conflict control performance and neural processing of conflict monitoring in the Simon task. In conclusion, in 10-year-old children, the fewer processes a task needs, the more likely there is an association between the T/C ratios and the behavioral and brain response, and the dual-hormone effects on conflict resolution may be testosterone-driven in the Stroop and Flanker tasks.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fangfang Shangguan
- Key Laboratory of Learning and Cognition, Department of Psychology, Capital Normal UniversityBeijing, China
| | - Tongran Liu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Behavioral Science, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijing, China
- Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijing, China
| | - Xiuying Liu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Behavioral Science, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijing, China
- Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijing, China
| | - Jiannong Shi
- CAS Key Laboratory of Behavioral Science, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijing, China
- Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijing, China
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Mehta PH, Lawless DesJardins NM, van Vugt M, Josephs RA. Hormonal underpinnings of status conflict: Testosterone and cortisol are related to decisions and satisfaction in the hawk-dove game. Horm Behav 2017; 92:141-154. [PMID: 28365397 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2017.03.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2016] [Revised: 03/24/2017] [Accepted: 03/24/2017] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
A contribution to a special issue on Hormones and Human Competition.Testosterone is theorized to influence status-seeking behaviors such as social dominance and competitive behavior, but supporting evidence is mixed. The present study tested the roles of testosterone and cortisol in the hawk-dove game, a dyadic economic decision-making paradigm in which earnings depend on one's own and the other player's choices. If one person selects the hawk strategy and the other person selects the dove strategy, the player who selected hawk attains a greater financial pay-off (status differentiation). The worst financial outcome occurs when both players choose the hawk strategy (status confrontation). Ninety-eight undergraduate students (42 men) provided saliva samples and played ten rounds of the hawk-dove game with another same-sex participant. In support of the hypothesis that testosterone is related to status concern, individuals higher in basal testosterone made more hawk decisions - decisions that harmed the other player. Acute decreases in cortisol were also associated with more hawk decisions. There was some empirical support for the dual-hormone hypothesis as well: basal testosterone was positively related to satisfaction in the game among low basal-cortisol individuals but not among high basal-cortisol individuals. There were no significant sex differences in these hormonal effects. The present findings align with theories of hormones and status-seeking behavior at the individual level, but they also open up new avenues for research on hormone profiles at the collective level. Our results suggest that the presence of two or more high-testosterone members increases the likelihood of status confrontations over a limited resource that can undermine collective outcomes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pranjal H Mehta
- Department of Psychology, University of Oregon, United States.
| | | | - Mark van Vugt
- Social and Organizational Psychology Group & Institute for Brain and Behavior, Vrije Universiteit (VU), Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Politics, University of Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Robert A Josephs
- Department of Psychology, University of Texas at Austin, United States
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Geniole SN, MacDonell ET, McCormick CM. The Point Subtraction Aggression Paradigm as a laboratory tool for investigating the neuroendocrinology of aggression and competition. Horm Behav 2017; 92:103-116. [PMID: 27106559 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2016.04.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2015] [Accepted: 04/15/2016] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
A contribution to a special issue on Hormones and Human Competition.The ease of measuring steroids in saliva has led to an increase in investigating their role in competition and aggression in laboratory settings and using behavioral measures of aggression. We review here the Point-Subtraction-Aggression-Paradigm (PSAP) as a measure of costly aggression and we compare and contrast the PSAP to other aggression measures. We describe our use of the PSAP, highlighting how it can be modified to investigate a broad array of experimental questions. We review studies that have investigated neuroendocrine function and the PSAP, and we conclude that across studies the relationship between fluctuations in testosterone and PSAP aggression scores are directionally positive, and are likely specific to men. Investigations of other neuroendocrine measures and the PSAP are fewer, limiting conclusions that can be drawn for other hormones. We provide two versions of the PSAP that can be used with E-PRIME® software for researchers interested in this measure for their laboratories.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shawn N Geniole
- Department of Psychology, Brock University, 1812 Sir Isaac Brock Way, St. Catharines, Ontario L2S 3A1, Canada
| | - Elliott T MacDonell
- Department of Psychology, Brock University, 1812 Sir Isaac Brock Way, St. Catharines, Ontario L2S 3A1, Canada
| | - Cheryl M McCormick
- Department of Psychology, Brock University, 1812 Sir Isaac Brock Way, St. Catharines, Ontario L2S 3A1, Canada; Centre for Neuroscience, Brock University, 1812 Sir Isaac Brock Way, St. Catharines, Ontario L2S 3A1, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Pfattheicher S, Keller J, Knezevic G. Sadism, the Intuitive System, and Antisocial Punishment in the Public Goods Game. PERSONALITY AND SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY BULLETIN 2017; 43:337-346. [DOI: 10.1177/0146167216684134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
In public goods situations, a specific destructive behavior emerges when individuals face the possibility of punishing others: antisocial punishment, that is, costly punishing cooperative individuals. So far, little is known about the (intuitive or reflective) processes underlying antisocial punishment. Building on the Social Heuristics Hypothesis and arguing that antisocial punishment reflects the basic characteristics of sadism, namely, aggressive behavior to dominate and to harm other individuals it is assumed that everyday sadists intuitively engage in antisocial punishment. Two studies document that activating (Study 1) and inhibiting (Study 2) the intuitive system when a punishment option can be realized in one-shot iterated public goods games increased (Study 1) and reduced (Study 2) antisocial punishment, in particular among individuals who reported a proneness to sadism. In sum, the present research suggests that sadistic tendencies executed intuitively play a crucial role regarding antisocial punishment in public goods situations.
Collapse
|
10
|
Barel E, Shahrabani S, Tzischinsky O. Sex Hormone/Cortisol Ratios Differentially Modulate Risk-Taking in Men and Women. EVOLUTIONARY PSYCHOLOGY 2017; 15:1474704917697333. [PMID: 28274134 PMCID: PMC10480923 DOI: 10.1177/1474704917697333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2016] [Accepted: 01/30/2017] [Indexed: 09/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The present study aimed to extend the original focus of the dual-hormone hypothesis on testosterone and cortisol involvement in risk-taking to other sex hormones: estrogen and progesterone. The study also examined two alternative models for the proposed relationship between cortisol and sex steroids and for their joint influence on risk-taking: interaction and ratio terms. In all, 40 women and 37 men were tested for circulating sex hormones and provided self-reports on risk-taking. The findings suggest that sex hormone-cortisol ratios differentially modulate risk-taking in men and women: In men, high ratios were associated with risk-taking, whereas in women the opposite pattern was found. The findings are discussed in light of evolutionary assumptions regarding sex differences in neuroendocrine mechanisms, suggesting sex differences in neural sensitivity to sex hormones in risk-taking.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Efrat Barel
- Department of Psychology, The Max Stern Academic College of Emek Yezreel, Emek Yezreel, Israel
| | - Shosh Shahrabani
- Department of Econmics and Management, The Max Stern Academic College of Emek Yezreel, Emek Yezreel, Israel
| | - Orna Tzischinsky
- Department of Behavioral Sciences, The Max Stern Academic College of Emek Yezreel, Emek Yezreel, Israel
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Pfattheicher S. Testosterone, cortisol and the Dark Triad: Narcissism (but not Machiavellianism or psychopathy) is positively related to basal testosterone and cortisol. PERSONALITY AND INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.paid.2016.03.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
|
12
|
High Anger Expression is Associated with Reduced Cortisol Awakening Response and Health Complaints in Healthy Young Adults. SPANISH JOURNAL OF PSYCHOLOGY 2016; 19:E19. [PMID: 27125918 DOI: 10.1017/sjp.2016.20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
The extant evidence suggests a robust positive association between expression (anger expression-out) and suppression (anger expression-in) of anger and compromised health. Nevertheless, the underlying psychobiological mechanisms which explain these relationships are not well understood. This study examined whether anger expression would predict general health, cortisol awakening response (CAR) and evening cortisol levels in a community sample of 156 healthy young adults of both genders. Participants were distributed into two groups according to their anger expression scores: high and low anger expression (HAE and LAE, respectively). Findings indicated that those with HAE had worse self-reported health (p = .02) and higher CAR than the LAE group (p = .04). Moreover, high levels of anger expression-out (p < .01) and -in (p < .01, for all) predicted a worse self-reported health in both groups. On the other hand, high anger expression-out was associated with flattened CAR but only in the HAE group (p < .01). This study reinforces the need to develop effective strategies to provide mechanisms to regulate anger expression by promoting personal growth and positive skills that enhance individuals' well-being and quality of life and, in turn, their own health.
Collapse
|
13
|
van Dijk E, Molenmaker WE, de Kwaadsteniet EW. Promoting cooperation in social dilemmas: the use of sanctions. Curr Opin Psychol 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/j.copsyc.2015.07.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
|
14
|
Pfattheicher S, Schindler S. Understanding the Dark Side of Costly Punishment: The Impact of Individual Differences in Everyday Sadism and Existential Threat. EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PERSONALITY 2015. [DOI: 10.1002/per.2003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
In public goods situations, a specific destructive behaviour reliably emerges when individuals face the possibility of costly punishing others: antisocial punishment, that is, costly punishing cooperative individuals. So far, however, little is known about the individual differences and situational factors that are associated with the dark side of costly punishment. This research deals with this shortcoming. We argue that antisocial punishment reflects the basic characteristics of sadism, namely, aggressive behaviour to dominate and to harm other individuals. We further argue that antisocial punishment may reflect a type of behaviour that allows for the maintenance of self–esteem (through aggressively dominating others). Therefore, we expect that individuals who report a disposition for everyday sadism are particularly likely to engage in antisocial punishment when their self has been threatened (by thinking about one's own death). In a study ( N = 99), we found empirical support for this assumption. The present research contributes to a better understanding of antisocial punishment and suggests that sadistic tendencies play a crucial role, especially when the self is (existentially) threatened. Copyright © 2015 European Association of Personality Psychology
Collapse
|
15
|
Pfattheicher S. A regulatory focus perspective on reputational concerns: The impact of prevention-focused self-regulation. MOTIVATION AND EMOTION 2015. [DOI: 10.1007/s11031-015-9501-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
|
16
|
Mehta PH, Welker KM, Zilioli S, Carré JM. Testosterone and cortisol jointly modulate risk-taking. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2015; 56:88-99. [PMID: 25813123 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2015.02.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 124] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2014] [Revised: 02/10/2015] [Accepted: 02/27/2015] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Recent theories propose that testosterone should be positively related to risk-taking, but empirical support is mixed. Building on the dual-hormone hypothesis, the present research tested whether testosterone's role in risk-taking depends on cortisol. Study 1 (N=115) tested this hypothesis in a mixed-sex sample with self and informant reports of risk-taking. Study 2 (N=165) tested this hypothesis in a male-only sample with the Balloon Analog Risk Task, a behavioral measure of risk-taking. Across both studies, there was a positive association between basal testosterone and risk-taking among individuals low in basal cortisol but not individuals high in basal cortisol. This pattern emerged in both males and females and across multiple measures of risk-taking (self reports, informant reports, behavior). These studies provide novel empirical support for the claim that testosterone and cortisol jointly regulate risk-taking. Discussion focuses on putative mechanisms as well as implications for real-world risk-taking behaviors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pranjal H Mehta
- University of Oregon, 1227 University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97043, USA.
| | - Keith M Welker
- University of Colorado Boulder, Department of Psychology, 325 UCB, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
| | - Samuele Zilioli
- Wayne State University, 42 W Warren Avenue, Detroit, MI 48202, USA
| | - Justin M Carré
- Nipissing University, 100 College Drive, North Bay, ON P1B8L7, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Reactions to ingroup and outgroup deviants: an experimental group paradigm for black sheep effect. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0125605. [PMID: 25946148 PMCID: PMC4422727 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0125605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2015] [Accepted: 03/24/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
In the classic black sheep effect (BSE) an ingroup deviant member is usually evaluated more negatively than the corresponding outgroup deviant. This effect is usually obtained by using scenarios and asking people to imagine the situation as vividly as possible. The present study proposes a new method to investigate the BSE by considering the behavioral and physiological reactions to unfair behavior (aggressive game behavior) in a realistic experimental group-setting. The study involved 52 university students in a minimal group setting who performed a modified version of the competitive reaction time (CRT) task adapted to be played in groups of four people. The classic BSE was replicated for evaluation but not for the behavioral reactions (retaliate to aggression) to deviants. More interestingly, a negative relationship emerged in the ingroup deviant condition between the level of behavioral derogation and the systolic blood pressure level.
Collapse
|
18
|
van der Meij L, Klauke F, Moore HL, Ludwig YS, Almela M, van Lange PAM. Football fan aggression: the importance of low Basal cortisol and a fair referee. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0120103. [PMID: 25844939 PMCID: PMC4386810 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0120103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2014] [Accepted: 01/19/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Fan aggression in football (soccer) is a societal problem that affects many countries worldwide. However, to date, most studies use an epidemiological or survey approach to explain football fan aggression. This study used a controlled laboratory study to advance a model of predictors for fan aggression. To do so, football fans (n = 74) saw a match summary in which their favorite team lost against their most important rival. Next, we measured levels of aggression with the hot sauce paradigm, in which fans were given the opportunity to administer a sample of hot sauce that a rival football supporter had to consume. To investigate if media exposure had the ability to reduce aggression, before the match fans saw a video in which fans of the rival team commented in a neutral, negative, or positive manner on their favorite team. Results showed that the media exposure did not affect aggression. However, participants displayed high levels of aggression and anger after having watched the match. Also, aggression was higher in fans with lower basal cortisol levels, which suggests that part of the aggression displayed was proactive and related to anti-social behavior. Furthermore, aggression was higher when the referee was blamed and aggression was lower when the performance of the participants' favorite team was blamed for the match result. These results indicate that aggression increased when the match result was perceived as unfair. Interventions that aim to reduce football fan aggression should give special attention to the perceived fairness of the match result.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Leander van der Meij
- Department of Social and Organizational Psychology, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- * E-mail:
| | - Fabian Klauke
- Department of Social and Organizational Psychology, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Hannah L. Moore
- Department of Social and Organizational Psychology, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Yannick S. Ludwig
- Department of Social and Organizational Psychology, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Mercedes Almela
- Laboratory of Social Cognitive Neuroscience, Department of Psychobiology, Valencia, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - Paul A. M. van Lange
- Department of Social and Organizational Psychology, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|