Samantha Cruz
To what extent do hormones play a role in human behaviour? COMPLETE
The endocrine system is composed of glands which secrete hormones into the bloodstream. Within this
system is the pituitary gland, also known as the master gland, as it controls the other glands. However, the
hypothalamus is located in the brain and controls the pituitary gland, thus controls the whole system.
Hormones are chemical messengers secreted by glands which have specific target organs which have a
widespread effect on human physiology and behaviour. On the other hand, there are other chemical
messengers, such as neurotransmitters, which impact human behaviour as well. Neurotransmitters either
excite or inhibit the firing of a electrical impulse to fire to the postsynaptic neuron. Overall, oxytocin and
testosterone are hormones that play a role in regulating trusting behaviour to a moderate extent as they are in
charge of long-term and complex behaviours. However, serotonin is a neurotransmitter which travels faster
through the body than hormones, and can affect our emotional regulating for a short-term effect.
Oxytocin is secreted by the pituitary gland. The main function of this hormone is to prepare women for labor
and lactation, but it is also known as the “love hormone” as it can affect an individual’s trust, mood, aggressive
and impulsive behaviour, and prosocial behaviour. Baumgartner et al. conducted a lab experiment with the
aim of investigating the role of oxytocin in trust. 49 participants were given oxytocin or a placebo through a
nasal spray and were put under a fMRI. They were then asked to act as investors and play several rounds of a
trust game against a human. In another condition, participants played a risk game against a computer. The
participants were then feedbacked by researchers and told that 50% of decisions led to poor investment. After
this feedback, they had to make their next decision. From this, the results showed that the placebo group
decreased their trust, while the oxytocin group continued to invest at similar rates. The fMRI showed that this
was due to weakened communications between the amygdala and caudate nucleus in the oxytocin group. The
researchers concluded that oxytocin decreases our ability to learn from when being betrayed, thus increasing
our trust. Overall, this study illustrates the role of hormones in regulating our behaviour.
However, there are aspects to consider about this study. Although a large number of participants are used,
increasing validity, the information provided is only correlational and not causation. It is unclear how oxytocin
medicates trust as well as a fMRI only displays what activates in the brain in action. Next, there is also low
ecological validity as this study was conducted in a lab, thus having an artificial setting. The trust game is not a
situation which is expected to happen in real life. The results from this study has brought about important
implications to the real-world. Trust is known as the glue which holds society together and now there is an
elucidate biological origin of trust. It also allows for a better understanding of trust when it comes to
interpersonal relationships and what to do when trust is broken with a significant other. Finally, this is
beneficial for treatments for people who have trust related disorders, such as anxiety.
Another hormone which seems to be responsible for regulating trust is testosterone, secreted from the ovaries
in women and testes in men. However, the main function of testosterone is for sexual maturation and sperm
production. Bos et al. conducted a quasi-experiment with the aim of investigating the role of testosterone in
regulating trust. Through a double blind repeated measures lab experiment, 24 young women were chosen by
opportunity sampling to come into the lab on two separate occasions during their menstrual cycle. A baseline
measurement of testosterone was measured through saliva samples. They were then given a placebo or
0.5mg of testosterone orally, which they then had to complete a trust task. There was no statistical difference
between the placebo and testosterone group. The participants were then split into “low” or “high” testosterone
groups based on their baseline measurement. Testosterone seemed to decrease trust in the high group, but
had no effect on the low group. The researchers concluded that testosterone seems to downregulate the
adaptive nature of increasing trust. From this study, it is clear that there are multiple hormones that play a role
in regulating trusting behaviour.
To what extent do hormones play a role in human behaviour? COMPLETE
The endocrine system is composed of glands which secrete hormones into the bloodstream. Within this
system is the pituitary gland, also known as the master gland, as it controls the other glands. However, the
hypothalamus is located in the brain and controls the pituitary gland, thus controls the whole system.
Hormones are chemical messengers secreted by glands which have specific target organs which have a
widespread effect on human physiology and behaviour. On the other hand, there are other chemical
messengers, such as neurotransmitters, which impact human behaviour as well. Neurotransmitters either
excite or inhibit the firing of a electrical impulse to fire to the postsynaptic neuron. Overall, oxytocin and
testosterone are hormones that play a role in regulating trusting behaviour to a moderate extent as they are in
charge of long-term and complex behaviours. However, serotonin is a neurotransmitter which travels faster
through the body than hormones, and can affect our emotional regulating for a short-term effect.
Oxytocin is secreted by the pituitary gland. The main function of this hormone is to prepare women for labor
and lactation, but it is also known as the “love hormone” as it can affect an individual’s trust, mood, aggressive
and impulsive behaviour, and prosocial behaviour. Baumgartner et al. conducted a lab experiment with the
aim of investigating the role of oxytocin in trust. 49 participants were given oxytocin or a placebo through a
nasal spray and were put under a fMRI. They were then asked to act as investors and play several rounds of a
trust game against a human. In another condition, participants played a risk game against a computer. The
participants were then feedbacked by researchers and told that 50% of decisions led to poor investment. After
this feedback, they had to make their next decision. From this, the results showed that the placebo group
decreased their trust, while the oxytocin group continued to invest at similar rates. The fMRI showed that this
was due to weakened communications between the amygdala and caudate nucleus in the oxytocin group. The
researchers concluded that oxytocin decreases our ability to learn from when being betrayed, thus increasing
our trust. Overall, this study illustrates the role of hormones in regulating our behaviour.
However, there are aspects to consider about this study. Although a large number of participants are used,
increasing validity, the information provided is only correlational and not causation. It is unclear how oxytocin
medicates trust as well as a fMRI only displays what activates in the brain in action. Next, there is also low
ecological validity as this study was conducted in a lab, thus having an artificial setting. The trust game is not a
situation which is expected to happen in real life. The results from this study has brought about important
implications to the real-world. Trust is known as the glue which holds society together and now there is an
elucidate biological origin of trust. It also allows for a better understanding of trust when it comes to
interpersonal relationships and what to do when trust is broken with a significant other. Finally, this is
beneficial for treatments for people who have trust related disorders, such as anxiety.
Another hormone which seems to be responsible for regulating trust is testosterone, secreted from the ovaries
in women and testes in men. However, the main function of testosterone is for sexual maturation and sperm
production. Bos et al. conducted a quasi-experiment with the aim of investigating the role of testosterone in
regulating trust. Through a double blind repeated measures lab experiment, 24 young women were chosen by
opportunity sampling to come into the lab on two separate occasions during their menstrual cycle. A baseline
measurement of testosterone was measured through saliva samples. They were then given a placebo or
0.5mg of testosterone orally, which they then had to complete a trust task. There was no statistical difference
between the placebo and testosterone group. The participants were then split into “low” or “high” testosterone
groups based on their baseline measurement. Testosterone seemed to decrease trust in the high group, but
had no effect on the low group. The researchers concluded that testosterone seems to downregulate the
adaptive nature of increasing trust. From this study, it is clear that there are multiple hormones that play a role
in regulating trusting behaviour.
