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. placebo and oxytocin) increased ratings of empathic concern after viewing distressing and uplifting videos. No main or interaction effects were found for individuals who received oxytocin.

Conclusions: Vasopressin has a role in enhancing empathy among individuals who received higher levels of paternal warmth.

Trial registration: NCT01680718.

Keywords: Empathic concern; Intranasal administration; Oxytocin; Paternal warmth; Vasopressin.

Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of Conflicting Interests

The authors declared that they had no conflicts of interest with respect to their authorship or the publication of this article.

Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Figures

Figure 1

There was a significant interaction of drug condition (AVP, OT, Placebo) x paternal warmth on empathic concern following the distressing video. At +1 SD above the mean of paternal warmth, individuals on AVP reported significantly higher levels of empathic concern compared to those on placebo or OT. Error bars represent 95% CIs.

Figure 2

There was a significant interaction of drug condition (AVP, OT, placebo) x paternal warmth on empathic concern following the uplifting video. At +1 SD above the mean of paternal warmth, individuals on AVP reported significantly higher levels of empathic concern compared to those on OT and marginally higher levels of empathic concern compared to those on placebo. Error bars represent 95% CIs.