The Effect Of Oxytocin On Intergroup Conflict In A Multiplayer Online Video Game

Intergroup conflict is widespread in all aspects of society and plays an extremely important role in the maintenance and evolution of order in human societies.It has been shown that oxytocin regulates intergroup conflict in traditional simple tasks(i.e.highly controlled experimental conditions).However,it remains unclear whether oxytocin influences intergroup conflict in more ecologically complex naturalistic settings,and whether this influence is moderated by individual psychological attributes.To answer this question,this study used a multi-player online video game as a naturalistic experimental paradigm.Multiplayer online video games are designed to realistically simulate a battlefield environment that mirrors the reality of warfare,and as such they can be an ecologically valid way to study intergroup conflict.Specifically,firstly,such games can replicate the structure and form of real-world intergroup conflict.Secondly,they allow us to study the mechanisms that trigger and exacerbate intergroup conflict.Thirdly,such games can simulate a key element of intergroup conflict-the interdependence and chaos of human group behaviour in complex social environments.Combining these findings and hypotheses,this study used a randomised,placebocontrolled,double-blind,between-subjects design to explore whether oxytocin affects intergroup conflict in multiplayer online video games and whether this effect is moderated by individual psychological attributes.In this study,90 game users were randomly assigned to a placebo and oxytocin group based on game use,demographic variables and asked to complete a series of psychological scales.After 35 min of spraying,the subjects were asked to play a multiplayer online video game and during this time,data on their EEG and behavioural performance were recorded.The main tasks were as follows:First,the data on the behavioural aspects of the game were examined for differences between subjects in the oxytocin and placebo groups.It was found that subjects in the oxytocin group had more deaths than those in the placebo group,while no significant differences were found between the two groups in terms of the number of enemy kills and assists.The EEG power spectra of subjects in the oxytocin and placebo groups were tested for differences.The results of the relative power spectra found that the oxytocin group had higher beta power spectra at the frontal pole(FP2)and temporal lobe(T4)electrodes and lower alpha power spectra at the parietal(P3,P4)and temporal lobe(T4)electrodes,relative to the placebo group.The results of the power spectrum ratios found lower alpha/beta power spectra at frontal(FP1,FP2)and temporal(T4)electrodes,lower theta/beta power spectra at frontal(FP2)electrodes,and lower alpha peaks at parietal(P4)electrodes in the oxytocin group relative to the placebo group.Second,the play behaviour data were distinguished into primary and secondary indicators and their Pearson correlation with the EEG power spectrum was calculated.The results showed that in the primary metrics,the number of kills was significantly negatively correlated with theta/beta and alpha/beta(FP2),and the number of assists was significantly positively correlated with alpha/beta(FP1).In the secondary indicators,economy was negatively and significantly correlated with θ/β(FP2),mulligans were negatively and significantly correlated with α/β(FP1,FP2)and θ/β,and mulligans were significantly correlated withβ(FP2).Further,to explore whether psychological attributes moderate the effect of oxytocin on intergroup conflict,this study divided the subjects in the oxytocin group into high and low scoring groups based on the mean of the scale scores,and then conducted difference statistics between the high and low scoring groups in the oxytocin group,and further screened out the indicators with significant differences for moderating effect analysis.The results found that autistic tendencies and social anxiety tendencies significantly moderated the effect of oxytocin on intergroup conflict.As autistic tendencies/social anxiety tendencies increased,the effect of oxytocin on intergroup conflict decreased.Taken together,the findings suggest that in ecologically effective settings,oxytocin increases intergroup conflict in terms of self-sacrifice and/or aggression towards outgroup members,but may not affect complex play skills similar to hitting/assisting.Furthermore,the effects of oxytocin on intergroup conflict are moderated by individual psychological attributes,such as autistic tendencies and levels of social anxiety.Specifically,as autistic tendencies/social anxiety tendencies increased,oxytocin had less of an effect on intergroup conflict.Overall,the findings of this study contribute to the ecological generalizability of the effects of oxytocin on intergroup conflict.