The interplay of oxytocin and collectivistic orientation shields against negative effects of ostracism

Surprisingly, oxytocin, a socially potent neuropeptide, has not been found to affect responses to ostracism. However, these effects may depend on individual differences, specifically the propensity for cooperation and social connectedness. We thus predicted that oxytocin is more likely to attenuate negative responses to ostracism in people with collectivistic (vs. individualistic) orientation, particularly horizontal collectivism, which is oriented toward cooperation among equals. After intranasal administration of oxytocin or a placebo, participants were ostracized or included during the computer-based ball-tossing game Cyberball and indicated their sense of social comfort regarding the Cyberball game. Under oxytocin, responses to ostracism were less negative in participants with a horizontal collectivistic (vs. individualistic) orientation. The results could not be explained by affect, including anxiety. The results suggest that collectivistic beliefs facilitate oxytocin's shielding effect against negative consequences of ostracism. We discuss underlying mechanisms and factors other than collectivistic orientation that could explain the findings.