title: Oxytocin increases the likeability of physically formidable men.
abstract: Physical size and strength are associated with dominance and threat. The current study tested (i) whether men's evaluations of male strangers would be negatively influenced by cues indicating physical formidability, and (ii) whether these evaluations would be influenced by oxytocin, a neuropeptide that mediates social behavior and reduces social anxiety. In a placebo-controlled double-blind design, we administered either oxytocin (24 I.U.) or placebo intranasally to 100 healthy males and assessed their responses to an image of either a physically formidable (strong) or physically non-formidable (weak) male peer. Whereas participants receiving placebo expressed dislike and avoidance of the strong male relative to the weak male, oxytocin selectively improved social evaluation of the strong male. These results provide first evidence that oxytocin regulates social evaluation of peers based on body features indicating strength and formidability. We discuss the possibility that oxytocin may promote the expansion of social networks by increasing openness toward potentially threatening individuals.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Laboratory for Biological and Personality Psychology, University of Freiburg, D-79104 Freiburg, Germany, Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver BC V6T 1Z4, Canada, Department of Psychology, University of Cologne, D-50931 Cologne, Germany and Freiburg Brain Imaging Center, University Medical Center, University of Freiburg, D-79106 Freiburg, Germany Department of Psychology, Laboratory for Biological and Personality Psychology, University of Freiburg, D-79104 Freiburg, Germany, Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver BC V6T 1Z4, Canada, Department of Psychology, University of Cologne, D-50931 Cologne, Germany and Freiburg Brain Imaging Center, University Medical Center, University of Freiburg, D-79106 Freiburg, Germany frances.chen@psych.ubc.ca.
authors.forename: Frances S
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Laboratory for Biological and Personality Psychology, University of Freiburg, D-79104 Freiburg, Germany, Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver BC V6T 1Z4, Canada, Department of Psychology, University of Cologne, D-50931 Cologne, Germany and Freiburg Brain Imaging Center, University Medical Center, University of Freiburg, D-79106 Freiburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mayer
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Laboratory for Biological and Personality Psychology, University of Freiburg, D-79104 Freiburg, Germany, Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver BC V6T 1Z4, Canada, Department of Psychology, University of Cologne, D-50931 Cologne, Germany and Freiburg Brain Imaging Center, University Medical Center, University of Freiburg, D-79106 Freiburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mussweiler
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Laboratory for Biological and Personality Psychology, University of Freiburg, D-79104 Freiburg, Germany, Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver BC V6T 1Z4, Canada, Department of Psychology, University of Cologne, D-50931 Cologne, Germany and Freiburg Brain Imaging Center, University Medical Center, University of Freiburg, D-79106 Freiburg, Germany Department of Psychology, Laboratory for Biological and Personality Psychology, University of Freiburg, D-79104 Freiburg, Germany, Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver BC V6T 1Z4, Canada, Department of Psychology, University of Cologne, D-50931 Cologne, Germany and Freiburg Brain Imaging Center, University Medical Center, University of Freiburg, D-79106 Freiburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Heinrichs
mesh_terms: D000281:Administration, Intranasal; D000328:Adult; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004644:Emotions / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010121:Oxytocin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D012919:Social Behavior; D012938:Social Perception; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D010121:Oxytocin
keywords: body morphology; neuropeptides; oxytocin; social evaluation; social perception