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Related Experiment Videos

Oxytocin increases generosity in humans.

Paul J Zak1, Angela A Stanton, Sheila Ahmadi

  • 1Center for Neuroeconomics Studies and Department of Economics, Claremont Graduate University, Claremont, California, United States of America. paul.zak@cgu.edu

Plos One
|November 8, 2007
PubMed
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Oxytocin (OT) significantly increased generosity in humans by 80% compared to a placebo. This hormone enhances prosocial behavior, suggesting a key role for emotional connection in generous acts.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Social Psychology
  • Behavioral Economics

Background:

  • Human generosity towards strangers, even at personal cost, is a complex behavior.
  • The underlying neurobiological and psychological mechanisms of generosity remain incompletely understood.
  • Empathy and emotional identification are hypothesized to play a role in promoting generous actions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the causal role of oxytocin (OT) in modulating human generosity.
  • To differentiate the effects of OT on generosity versus pure altruism.
  • To explore the interplay between OT, altruism, and emotional identification in prosocial behavior.

Main Methods:

  • A double-blind, placebo-controlled study design was employed.
  • Participants received an infusion of 40 IU oxytocin (OT) or a placebo.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Generosity was assessed through a blinded, one-shot monetary sharing task with a stranger, which allowed for rejection.

    • Main Results:

    • Oxytocin (OT) administration led to an 80% increase in generosity compared to the placebo group.
    • OT did not significantly affect performance on a separate task measuring unilateral altruism.
    • The combination of OT and individual altruism levels predicted nearly half of the variance in observed generosity.

    Conclusions:

    • Oxytocin administration significantly enhances generosity, suggesting a direct neurochemical pathway.
    • Generosity is distinct from pure altruism and is influenced by factors beyond simple cost-benefit analysis.
    • Emotional identification with others, potentially mediated by oxytocin, is a critical component of generous behavior.