Oxytocin (OXT) is known to affect various social processes, including social comparisons and intergroup competition. In this study, we examined whether social comparisons in intergroup situations can be modulated by OXT and, if so, how this modulation manifests. Using a double-blind placebo-controlled design, we randomly assigned male participants to either OXT or placebo treatment and then asked them to play a card game with either an in-group or an out-group member. The OXT-treated participants showed a greater social comparison effect in the games with an out-group member than in games with an in-group member. Specifically, the participants in the OXT treatment condition showed a greater acceptance rate for relative gain (downward comparison) and a lower acceptance rate for relative loss (upward comparison) while playing with an out-group member rather than an in-group member. In contrast, no such effect was observed among placebo-treated participants. These findings demonstrate that OXT facilitates intergroup social comparisons with out-group versus in-group members.

中文翻译：

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催产素对群体间社会比较的影响

众所周知，催产素 (OXT) 会影响各种社会过程，包括社会比较和群体间竞争。在这项研究中，我们检查了群际情境中的社会比较是否可以通过 OXT 进行调节，如果可以，这种调节是如何体现的。使用双盲安慰剂对照设计，我们将男性参与者随机分配到 OXT 或安慰剂治疗，然后让他们与组内或组外成员玩纸牌游戏。接受 OXT 治疗的参与者在有组外成员的游戏中比在有组内成员的游戏中表现出更大的社会比较效应。具体来说，OXT 治疗条件下的参与者在与组外成员而不是组内成员玩耍时表现出更高的相对增益接受率（向下比较）和较低的相对损失接受率（向上比较）。相比之下，在安慰剂治疗的参与者中没有观察到这种效果。这些发现表明，OXT 有助于与组外成员与组内成员进行组间社会比较。