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Study · Randomized controlled trial · 2012

5 results

Oxytocin modulates the link between adult attachment and cooperation through reduced betrayal aversion.

De Dreu CK

Psychoneuroendocrinology4 Nov 2011Cited by 79 (Europe PMC)

PMID22055739 (opens in a new tab)DOI10.1016/j.psyneuen.2011.10.003 (opens in a new tab)PepBankPUB-22055739
Publisher pagePubMedAsk about this study
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Summary

The text of this summary is not shown here, because the article license does not allow reuse. Read it at the source (opens in a new tab)

Text rights: Publisher copyright. Results still quote short attributed sentences.

Results from this study5

5 results from studies that gave the peptide. 5 results from people.

  1. 01HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome

    In healthy males, oxytocin did not modulate the effects of attachment anxiety on cooperation.

    In plain wordsIn healthy men, oxytocin did not change how attachment anxiety related to cooperation.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    No significant changeModulation of attachment anxiety effects on cooperation
    Study

    n: not reported in source

    Comparator
    Placebo
    Outcome group
    Social behavior and cognition · Nervous system and cognition
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated · intranasalAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Attachment anxiety--the tendency to fear rejection by others--had few effects and was not modulated by oxytocin.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    Healthy males completed a validated attachment style measure, received intranasal oxytocin or placebo, and privately chose between cooperation and non-cooperation in an incentivized social dilemma with an anonymous stranger.
  2. 02HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome

    In healthy males high in attachment avoidance, oxytocin reduced betrayal aversion compared with placebo.

    In plain wordsIn healthy men who avoid closeness, oxytocin lowered fear of being betrayed, compared with placebo.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    DecreaseBetrayal aversion in participants high in attachment avoidance
    Study

    n: not reported in source

    Comparator
    Placebo
    Outcome group
    Social behavior and cognition · Nervous system and cognition
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated · intranasalAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Especially among participants high rather than low in attachment avoidance, oxytocin reduced betrayal aversion, and increased trust and cooperation compared to placebo.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    Healthy males completed a validated attachment style measure, received intranasal oxytocin or placebo, and privately chose between cooperation and non-cooperation in an incentivized social dilemma with an anonymous stranger.
  3. 03HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome

    In healthy males high in attachment avoidance, oxytocin increased trust compared with placebo.

    In plain wordsIn healthy men who avoid closeness, oxytocin raised trust, compared with placebo.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    IncreaseTrust in participants high in attachment avoidance
    Study

    n: not reported in source

    Comparator
    Placebo
    Outcome group
    Social behavior and cognition · Nervous system and cognition
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated · intranasalAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Especially among participants high rather than low in attachment avoidance, oxytocin reduced betrayal aversion, and increased trust and cooperation compared to placebo.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    Healthy males completed a validated attachment style measure, received intranasal oxytocin or placebo, and privately chose between cooperation and non-cooperation in an incentivized social dilemma with an anonymous stranger.
  4. 04HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome

    In healthy males high in attachment avoidance, oxytocin increased cooperation compared with placebo.

    In plain wordsIn healthy men who avoid closeness, oxytocin raised cooperation, compared with placebo.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    IncreaseCooperation in participants high in attachment avoidance
    Study

    n: not reported in source

    Comparator
    Placebo
    Outcome group
    Social behavior and cognition · Nervous system and cognition
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated · intranasalAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Especially among participants high rather than low in attachment avoidance, oxytocin reduced betrayal aversion, and increased trust and cooperation compared to placebo.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    Healthy males completed a validated attachment style measure, received intranasal oxytocin or placebo, and privately chose between cooperation and non-cooperation in an incentivized social dilemma with an anonymous stranger.
  5. 05HumanRandomized controlled trialMechanism

    In healthy males, the effects of attachment avoidance and oxytocin on cooperation were mediated by betrayal aversion and not by affiliation tendencies.

    In plain wordsIn healthy men, oxytocin and attachment avoidance changed cooperation through betrayal aversion, not through a wish to affiliate.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    Not applicableMediation of oxytocin and attachment avoidance effects on cooperation by betrayal aversion
    Study

    n: not reported in source

    Comparator
    Placebo
    Outcome group
    Social behavior and cognition · Nervous system and cognition
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated · intranasalAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Effects of attachment avoidance and oxytocin on cooperation were mediated by betrayal aversion, and not by affiliation tendencies.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    Healthy males completed a validated attachment style measure, received intranasal oxytocin or placebo, and privately chose between cooperation and non-cooperation in an incentivized social dilemma with an anonymous stranger.

AI wrote and checked these results. AI can make mistakes, so check important results against the source.

Version history

PepBank keeps every version of the data on this study. Status changes from Retraction Watch, Europe PMC and Crossref are listed with their source.

  1. Version 2Current

    11 Oct 2026, 01:30 UTC

    Study results updated

  2. Version 1

    9 Oct 2026, 02:49 UTC

    First added · source update from Europe PMC

Subjects

Terms as the source lists them.

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