Effects of Oxytocin on Social Comparisons in Intergroup Situations

Eun Young Kim,Na Young Shin,Min Woo Lee,Sung Nyun Kim,Sunhae Sul,Hackjin Kim,Jun Soo Kwon,Kyung-Ok Lim

doi:10.3390/brainsci11091227

Abstract

Oxytocin (OXT) is known to affect various social processes, including social comparisons and intergroup competition. In this study, we examined whether social comparisons in intergroup situations can be modulated by OXT and, if so, how this modulation manifests. Using a double-blind placebo-controlled design, we randomly assigned male participants to either OXT or placebo treatment and then asked them to play a card game with either an in-group or an out-group member. The OXT-treated participants showed a greater social comparison effect in the games with an out-group member than in games with an in-group member. Specifically, the participants in the OXT treatment condition showed a greater acceptance rate for relative gain (downward comparison) and a lower acceptance rate for relative loss (upward comparison) while playing with an out-group member rather than an in-group member. In contrast, no such effect was observed among placebo-treated participants. These findings demonstrate that OXT facilitates intergroup social comparisons with out-group versus in-group members.

Highlights

Downward comparison with an inferior other leads to positive affect, while upward comparison with a superior other leads to negative affect [2]
We used a three-way mixed ANOVA with factors of treatment (OXT and placebo), group membership, and congruency to test the individual SCIs, to examine whether OXT differentially influenced social comparisons with in-group versus out-group members in the incongruence versus congruence condition trials. This analysis revealed a significant three-way interaction among treatment, group membership, and congruency, F(1, 35) = 5.30, p = 0.027, η2 = 0.13 (Figure 3, Table 1). This three-way interaction effect was confirmed by an ANCOVA with the individual characteristics of the participants and the impression ratings to the in-group/out-group members included as covariates, F(1, 27) = 4.77, p = 0.038, η2 = 0.15
The current study aimed to examine whether OXT modulates social comparisons in the minimal intergroup situation

Summary

Introduction

When evaluating our own abilities or resources, we often compare ourselves with others [1]. Downward comparison with an inferior other leads to positive affect, while upward comparison with a superior other leads to negative affect [2] Such a social comparison motivates people to reduce the difference between themselves and others in an upward comparison situation where they have fewer resources than others. Even young children at the age of six choose an absolutely smaller amount of resource that is relatively greater than others over another absolutely larger amount of resource that is equal between themselves and others [5] These findings indicate that social comparison, which makes people focus more on their relative rather than absolute states, appears to be a fundamental part of the human mind [6,7] and can be an important determinant of the subjective utility that people experience from their choices

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