Intranasal oxytocin may help maintain romantic bonds by decreasing jealousy evoked by either imagined or real partner infidelity

2021 ◽  
pp. 026988112199157
Author(s):  
Xiaoxiao Zheng ◽  
Xiaolei Xu ◽  
Lei Xu ◽  
Juan Kou ◽  
Lizhu Luo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Interactions ◽  
Romantic Partners ◽  
Emotional Impact ◽  
Heterosexual Couples ◽  
Sexual Infidelity ◽  
Double Blind ◽  
Romantic Jealousy ◽  
Subject Design ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
Positive Feelings

Background: While romantic jealousy may help to maintain relationships, following partner infidelity and an irretrievable loss of trust it can also promote break-ups. The neuropeptide oxytocin can enhance the maintenance of social bonds and reduce couple conflict, although its influence on jealousy evoked by imagined or real infidelity is unclear. Aims: This study aimed to investigate the effects of intranasal oxytocin (24 IU) on romantic jealousy in both males and females in imagined and real contexts. Methods: Seventy heterosexual couples participated in this double-blind, placebo-controlled, between-subject design study. Jealousy was firstly quantified in the context of subjects imagining partner infidelity and secondly in a Cyberball game where their partner interacted preferentially with an opposite-sexed rival stranger to simulate partner exclusion, or rejected a neutral stranger but not the partner. Results: Oxytocin primarily decreased jealousy and arousal ratings towards imagined emotional and sexual infidelity by a partner in both sexes. During the Cyberball game, while male and female subjects in both groups subsequently threw the ball least often to the rival stranger, under oxytocin they showed reduced romantic jealousy and arousal ratings for stranger players, particularly the rival one, and reported reduced negative and increased positive feelings while playing the game. Conclusions: Together, our results suggest that oxytocin can reduce the negative emotional impact of jealousy in established romantic partners evoked by imagined or real infidelity or exclusive social interactions with others. This provides further support for oxytocin promoting maintenance of relationships.

scholarly journals Heterosexual couples and homosexual rivals: Sex differences in romantic jealousy when the rival is the same sex as your partner

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Voracek ◽  
Jeff Ward ◽  
Phoebe Proudfoot
Keyword(s):  
Sex Differences ◽  
Hypothesis Testing ◽  
Heterosexual Men ◽  
Heterosexual Couples ◽  
Sexual Infidelity ◽  
Testing Strategy ◽  
Same Sex ◽  
Romantic Jealousy ◽  
Sexual Jealousy ◽  
Heterosexual Women

Research testing hypotheses derived from evolutionary psychology about sex differences in romantic jealousy has been hampered by a confirmationist hypothesis testing strategy. We report three studies conducted in Austria and Australia that employ a conditional hypothesis testing strategy to investigate variations in sex differences in jealousy under different relationship conditions, namely opposite-sex and same-sex infidelity among heterosexual individuals. In Study 1, heterosexual women found a same-sex sexual infidelity more aversive than heterosexual men did, and this difference persisted after adjusting for other likely predictors of this difference. In Studies 2 and 3, enhanced sexual jealousy in heterosexual men was not observed when the rival was the same sex as his partner. This effect was reversed for women, who were more distressed by sexual versus emotional infidelity when the rival was the same sex as her partner. An explanation for this set of findings, based on sex differences in sexual and attachment motivation, is proposed.

scholarly journals Does Consumption of Nitrate Containing Beetroot Juice Affect Indoor Rowing Performance in Males and Females?

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 1754-1754
Author(s):  
Giselle Greisman ◽  
June Kloubec ◽  
Alexandra Kazaks ◽  
Kelly Morrow ◽  
Cristen Harris
Keyword(s):  
P Value ◽  
Beetroot Juice ◽  
Double Blind ◽  
Male Athletes ◽  
Funding Sources ◽  
Beverage Type ◽  
Rowing Performance ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Research Grant

Abstract Objectives The nitrates found in beetroot juice (BR) are known to be a precursor of nitric oxide (NO). NO is a known vasodilator which allows more oxygen to travel in the blood and may improve muscle efficiency. This study aims to measure the effect of BR supplementation on performance on 500-meter row time for trained CrossFit athletes. Many past studies have analyzed the effect of BR on male athletes, this study aimed to include both males and females. Methods This study used a randomized, cross-over, double-blind, placebo-controlled design to measure 500-meter row time. Thirty athletes age 18–60 consumed either a 2.7 oz shot of BR (6.5 mmol nitrate) or a placebo nitrate-free beetroot juice (PL). Two hours later, they rowed 500 meters. After at least a seven-day washout period, athletes repeated the 500-meter row with either BR or PL for comparison. This study was performed from July 2019 – January 2020 and was conducted in Mercer Island, Washington. Results Ten males age 18.0 to 60.3 (median 47.7) and twenty females age 26.7 to 58.3 (median 43.8), participated in this study. Row times for the 500-meter row ranged from 88.2 seconds to 150.7 seconds. Data indicate that although 60% of all participants rowed faster with BR (mean 112.83 seconds), compared to PL (mean 113.40 seconds), the difference in the means of row times (−0.563) was not significant overall (P = 0.29). However, for the 10 males, row times were significantly faster (1.02 second difference, P = 0.04) on average with BR compared to PL. For the 20 females, the difference in mean row time (−0.335 seconds) was not significant (P = 0.66). Competitive rowers were defined as those who rowed under 110 seconds (N = 15). For competitive rowers (10 males, 5 females), row times were significantly faster with BR compared to PL (difference in means −0.94, P = 0.009). However, for those rowers, the P-value of drink * group was 0.015. Conclusions Dietary nitrate improved indoor rowing performance in males but not in females. In addition, competitive rowers were also significantly faster with BR, however, there may be an order bias, since there was significant interaction between beverage type and testing order. Food based nitrate supplements may increase rowing performance with male rowers. Funding Sources Supported by Bastyr Faculty Student Research Grant.

Romantic Partners in a Market Perspective: Expectations about What Ensures a Highly Desirable Partner

2013 ◽  
Vol 113 (2) ◽  
pp. 605-618 ◽  
Author(s):  
Felipe N. Castro ◽  
Wallisen T. Hattori ◽  
Maria Emília Yamamoto ◽  
Fívia A. Lopes
Keyword(s):  
Social Skills ◽  
Statistical Models ◽  
Physical Attractiveness ◽  
Romantic Partners ◽  
Evolutionary Perspective ◽  
Status Characteristics ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
Biological Market ◽  
Different Levels ◽  
Market Perspective

This study used the biological market perspective and influential statistical models from the marketing field to investigate males' and females' expectations regarding which combination of characteristics are most relevant in ensuring desirable partnerships for same-sex individuals. Thus, 358 Brazilian undergraduates assessed eight descriptions of same-gender stimulus targets (formulated with different levels of physical attractiveness, social skills, and current or prospective social status) and evaluated the overall desirability of the targets' expected or probable partners. From the possible combinations, three groups emerged: for one group, mainly composed of men, status characteristics were the most important attributes; for the others, mostly composed of women, social skills or physical characteristics were identified as most important in appealing to a desirable partner. This work expands the understanding of variability in male and female romantic expectations, and its implications are discussed from an evolutionary perspective.

scholarly journals Using transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) to investigate why faces are and are not special

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ciro Civile ◽  
Samantha Quaglia ◽  
Emika Waguri ◽  
Maddy Ward ◽  
Rossy McLaren ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Direct Current ◽  
Sham Group ◽  
Inversion Effect ◽  
Matching Task ◽  
Anodal Tdcs ◽  
Double Blind ◽  
Face Inversion Effect ◽  
Face Inversion ◽  
Subject Design ◽  
The Face

AbstractWe believe we are now in a position to answer the question, "Are faces special?" inasmuch as this applies to the face inversion effect (better performance for upright vs inverted faces). Using a double-blind, between-subject design, in two experiments (n = 96) we applied a specific tDCS procedure targeting the Fp3 area while participants performed a matching-task with faces (Experiment 1a) or checkerboards from a familiar prototype-defined category (Experiment 1b). Anodal tDCS eliminated the checkerboard inversion effect reliably obtained in the sham group, but only reduced it for faces (although the reduction was significant). Thus, there is a component to the face inversion effect that we are not affecting with a tDCS procedure that can eliminate the checkerboard inversion effect. We suggest that the reduction reflects the loss of an expertise-based component in the face inversion effect, and the residual is due to a face-specific component of that effect.

scholarly journals Perceptions of close relationship through the Machiavellians´ dark glasses: Negativity, distrust, self-protection against risk and dissatisfaction

2018 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 806-830 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tamás Ináncsi ◽  
Attila Pilinszki ◽  
Tünde Paál ◽  
András Láng
Keyword(s):  
Relationship Satisfaction ◽  
Close Relationships ◽  
Romantic Partners ◽  
Heterosexual Couples ◽  
Negative Attitudes ◽  
Actor Partner Interdependence Model ◽  
Close Relationship ◽  
Self Protection ◽  
The Relationship

It is commonly known from the literature that Machiavellian individuals have negative attitudes towards people and in general towards the world´s affairs. They are distrustful of the intentions of others, and they get cautiously involved into interpersonal interactions and take risks only if that may not have any severe negative consequence. It is also a fact that there are few ventures in life that potentially involve as much insecurity and personal vulnerability as the establishment and maintenance of close relationships. In our study, we were seeking the answer to the question: do people with high levels of Machiavellianism show a generally negative, distrustful and cautious attitude in their intimate relationships, as well? What effect their pessimistic approaches have on the other consequences of the relationship (satisfaction, commitment, investment, quality of alternatives)? This question was investigated on a dyadic sample of heterosexual couples (N = 101 pairs) with Actor-Partner Interdependence Model (APIM). The results of the correlations and actor effects show that men with high levels of Machiavellianism perceive in a negative way not just people in general, but their romantic partners and relationships as well and they experience an increased level of distrust, risk, and dissatisfaction into their close relationships. Women with high levels of Machiavellianism are less negativistic and feel less discontent towards their intimate partner and relationship, but even they are unable to put their distrust and precaution aside. The results of partner effects have revealed that women's Machiavellianism undermines men's trust, while men's Machiavellianism has the effect of minimizing women's investment into their relationship.

Abstract P216: Elevated Blood Glutathione Does Not Reduce Arterial Stiffness or Central Blood Pressure in Healthy Males and Females

Circulation ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 137 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Brianna K Bruggeman ◽  
Katharine E Storo ◽  
Haley M Fair ◽  
Andrew J Wommack ◽  
James M Smoliga ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Arterial Stiffness ◽  
Antioxidant Capacity ◽  
Pulse Wave ◽  
Central Blood Pressure ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Double Blind ◽  
Mixed Effect ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
Healthy Males

Intro: Glutathione is endogenous within human plasma, erythrocyte lysate and is also bound to the protein within plasma. Glutathione mediates redox chemistry and prevents oxidative damage within and around cellular components via reduction of reactive species (e.g. reactive oxygen, nitrogen, or sulfur species). Polyphenols and antioxidants have been shown to improve NO bioavailability which may reduce long term incidence of endothelial dysfunction. Less is known about whether changes in antioxidant capacity augments the risk of developing hypertension. Hypothesis: We hypothesized that acute glutathione supplementation would decrease arterial stiffness and reduce both brachial (bBP) and central blood pressure (cBP) in healthy male and female volunteers. Methods: Six males and six females (25 ± 3 and 22 ± 1 years, respectively) participated in a randomized, double blind, placebo controlled, crossover protocol. On two visits separated by 1 week, following a 12-hour fast, participants consumed either a placebo or glutathione (negligible and 200 mg, respectively) supplement via 90 second sublingual absorption which was then swallowed. Concentrations of oxidized (GSSG) and reduced glutathione (GSH) were spectrophotometrically measured in plasma (protein-bound) and erythrocyte lysate using a kinetic, enzymatic assay. Arterial stiffness was measured via pulse wave velocity (PWV) using applanation tonometry, and cBP was determined non-invasively using pulse wave analysis. All data were recorded before supplementation (baseline) and at 10, 30, 60 and 120 minutes post-consumption. Results: Linear mixed effect models revealed a significant (p<0.01) increase in total glutathione (GSH+GSSG) in the supplement group compared to placebo across all post-supplementation time points with the greatest increase occurring at 120 minutes (mean 99.0; 95%CI: 7.9,190.1). At 120 minutes post-consumption, no difference was present between glutathione and placebo groups for PWV (5.86 ± 1.19 and 6.08 ± 1.25 m/s, respectively; p=0.43), resting heart rate (52.95 ± 3.55 and 55.83 ± 6.36, respectively; p=0.16), systolic bBP (123.05 ± 12.75 and 123.13 ± 14.52 mmHg; p=0.22), diastolic bBP (71.81 ± 7.87 and 74.21 ± 6.53; p=0.48), systolic cBP (108.05 ± 10.45 and 108.68 ± 11.14 mmHg, respectively; p=0.11) and diastolic cBP (72.03 ± 7.82 and 74.94 ± 6.42 mmHg, respectively; p=0.46). Conclusion: Young healthy males and females experienced an increase in circulating humoral antioxidants in response to glutathione supplementation. However, supplementation had minimal effects on resting hemodynamics. Future research should examine glutathione supplementation’s effect in participants with decreased antioxidant capacity and increased oxidative stress including patients with known disease such as hypertension or peripheral artery disease.

scholarly journals No effect of copper supplementation on biochemical markers of bone metabolism in healthy adults

1999 ◽  
Vol 82 (4) ◽  
pp. 283-290 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aimi Baker ◽  
Eithne Turley ◽  
Maxine P. Bonham ◽  
Jacqueline M. O'Connor ◽  
J. J. Strain ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bone Resorption ◽  
Bone Formation ◽  
Biochemical Markers ◽  
Healthy Adults ◽  
Adult Males ◽  
Double Blind ◽  
Total Group ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
Effect Of Copper ◽  
Usual Diet

The influence of Cu supplementation of the usual diet for 6 weeks on biochemical markers of bone turnover and on putative indices of Cu status was investigated in healthy adults (twelve male and twelve female) aged 22–46 years, who participated in a double-blind placebo-controlled repeated crossover study. The study consisted of three 6-week supplementation regimens of 3 mg CuSO4, 3 mg Cu–glycine chelate (CuGC), and 6 mg CuGC, each separated by placebo periods of equal length. During baseline and on the last day of each dietary period, fasting morning first-void urine and fasting blood serum, plasma and erythrocytes were collected. The habitual dietary Cu intakes in males and females were approximately 1·4 and 1·1 mg/d respectively. Females had significantly higher (50 %) plasma caeruloplasmin (Cp) protein concentrations than males at baseline. Cu supplementation had no effect on erythrocyte superoxide dismutase (SOD,EC1.15.1.1) activity or plasma Cp protein (putative indices of Cu status) in the total group. Similarly, serum osteocalcin (a marker of bone formation), urinary creatinine (Cr) concentration, urinary pyridinoline : Cr or deoxypyridinoline : Cr excretion (markers of bone resorption) were unaffected in either the total group or in males and females separately, by any Cu supplementation regimen. It is concluded that Cu supplementation of the usual diet in healthy adult males and females had no effect on biochemical markers of bone formation or bone resorption over 6-week periods.

Are Cheaters Sexual Hypocrites? Sexual Hypocrisy, the Self-Serving Bias, and Personality Style

2019 ◽  
Vol 45 (10) ◽  
pp. 1499-1511 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin Warach ◽  
Lawrence Josephs ◽  
Bernard S. Gorman
Keyword(s):  
Prior Experience ◽  
The Self ◽  
Emotional Impact ◽  
Sexual Infidelity ◽  
Personality Variables ◽  
Moral Hypocrisy ◽  
Avoidant Attachment ◽  
Relationship Partners ◽  
Perpetrators And Victims ◽  
Primary Relationship

This article examines moral hypocrisy and the self-serving bias (SSB) in the sexual infidelity context. We found evidence of self-serving attributions that occur between primary relationship partners following sexual betrayals. Specifically, we found that sexual infidelity perpetrators (a) blamed their primary dyadic partners (i.e., victims) for infidelities significantly more than those victims blamed themselves for such infidelities, (b) blamed the surrounding circumstances for infidelities significantly more than their victims did, and (c) rated the emotional impact of infidelities on their victims as significantly less than victims’ ratings of such impact. Moreover, we found that participants with prior experience as both sexual infidelity perpetrators and victims displayed “sexual hypocrisy” by judging others more harshly than themselves for sexually unfaithful behavior. Our findings demonstrate that personality variables associated with sexual infidelity (narcissism, sexual narcissism, avoidant attachment, and primary psychopathy) are also relevant to self-serving attributions in the sexual infidelity context.

Accuracy and bias in perceptions of relationship authenticity

2019 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
pp. 47-57
Author(s):  
Robert E. Wickham ◽  
Melissa H. Bond
Keyword(s):  
Recent Work ◽  
Married Couples ◽  
Romantic Partners ◽  
Structural Equations ◽  
Heterosexual Couples ◽  
Bias Analysis ◽  
Structural Equations Modeling ◽  
Assumed Similarity ◽  
Sem Analyses

Impressions regarding the attributes of romantic partners play an important role in shaping attributions for relationship-relevant behaviors, but these perceptions are a mix of fact and fiction. In the light of recent work demonstrating the importance of authenticity in relationships, the present study examined these accuracy and bias in perceptions of authenticity among dating and married couples. Ratings of self- and perceived-partner authenticity were obtained from 107 heterosexual couples and subjected to Truth-and-Bias analysis using Bayesian Structural Equations Modeling (SEM). Analyses revealed that perceptions of partners’ willingness to increase intimacy were both accurate and subject to assumed-similarity bias, whereas perceptions of partners’ aversion to deception showed no evidence of accuracy but were strongly influenced by assumed-similarity.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document