The article by Cardoso, Ellenbogen and Linnen (2012) sought to perform an experimental investigation to determine whether or not oxytocin affects the self-perception of people. Based on the background information, studies propose that if oxytocin is manipulated experimentally, it would enhance trust, cooperation and positive interactions. However, Cardoso et al. (2012) found no empirical evidence regarding the technique through which positive social conducts are facilitated by oxytocin despite the existence of many studies that have focused on oxytocin’s effect on prosocial behavior. Cardoso et al. (2012) found this to be the main research gap and thus sought to fill it by hypothesizing that oxytocin influences people’s self-perception of their personality and enhance self-referential processing that facilitates prosocial behaviors.
The method used by the study by Cardoso et al. (2012) included a double-blind, randomized and a between-subjects experiment. During the experiment, 100 university learners were given an intranasal oxytocin dose or placebo of 24 I.U. after waiting for 90 minutes; they were then given the Revised NEO Personality Inventory together with other self-report measures to complete.
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The research established that the intranasal oxytocin raised the scores of NEO Personality Inventory openness and extraversion to experiences, especially for the positive emotions, warmth, openness to values and ideas, and altruism. However, oxytocin did not affect apparent social support, worry, self-esteem, depression, sensitivity to rejection, conscientiousness, and negative emotionality (Cardoso et al., 2012).
Cardoso et al. (2012) concluded that oxytocin use facilitated study participant’s self-perception of their personality for specific aspects vital for social affiliation. Cardoso et al. (2012) suggested that one way through which oxytocin facilitates positive social behaviors entails increased progressive self-referential dispensation.
The Cardoso et al. (2012) study results are vital in my field of study as they help me understand how people’s self-perception is affected by other factors, which in turn affects their prosocial behavior. In turn, this will help me focus on how to help people use oxytocin to enhance their social behaviors.
Reference
Cardoso, C., Ellenbogen, M., & Linnen, A. (2012). Acute intranasal oxytocin improves positive self-perceptions of personality. Psychopharmacology, 220 (4), 741-749.
