title: Oxytocin modulates selection of allies in intergroup conflict.
abstract: In intergroup competition and conflict, humans benefit from coalitions with strong partners who help them to protect their in-group and prevail over competing out-groups. Here, we link oxytocin, a neuropeptide produced in the hypothalamus, to ally selection in intergroup competition. In a double-blind placebo-controlled experiment, males self-administered oxytocin or placebo, and made selection decisions about six high-threat and six low-threat targets as potential allies in intergroup competition. Males given oxytocin rather than placebo viewed high-threat targets as more useful allies and more frequently selected them into their team than low-threat targets.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. c.k.w.dedreu@uva.nl
authors.forename: Carsten K W
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: De Dreu
authors.forename: Lindred L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Greer
authors.forename: Michel J J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Handgraaf
authors.forename: Shaul
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shalvi
authors.forename: Gerben A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Van Kleef
mesh_terms: D003163:Competitive Behavior / Q000187:drug effects*; D003220:Conflict, Psychological; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D003657:Decision Making / Q000187:drug effects; D005716:Game Theory; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010121:Oxytocin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D035502:Trust
chemical_list: D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D010121:Oxytocin