Vasopressin, but not oxytocin, increases empathic concern among individuals who received higher levels of paternal warmth: A randomized controlled trial.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Empathy improves our ability to communicate in social interactions and motivates prosocial behavior. The neuropeptides arginine vasopressin and oxytocin play key roles in socioemotional processes such as pair bonding and parental care, which suggests that they may be involved in empathic processing.

Methods

We investigated how vasopressin and oxytocin affect empathic responding in a randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled, between-subjects study design. We also examined the moderating role of parental warmth, as reported in the early family environment, on empathic responding following vasopressin, oxytocin, or placebo administration.

Results

Among participants who reported higher levels of paternal warmth (but not maternal warmth), vasopressin (vs. pl

SUBMITTER: Tabak BA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4268337 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature