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The dopaminergic reward system underpins gender differences in social preferences

Author

Listed:
  • Alexander Soutschek

    (University of Zurich)

  • Christopher J. Burke

    (University of Zurich)

  • Anjali Raja Beharelle

    (University of Zurich)

  • Robert Schreiber

    (University of Zurich)

  • Susanna C. Weber

    (University of Zurich)

  • Iliana I. Karipidis

    (University of Zurich
    University of Zurich
    University of Zurich, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich)

  • Jolien ten Velden

    (University of Zurich
    Max-Planck-Institute for Psycholinguistics)

  • Bernd Weber

    (University Hospital Bonn
    University of Bonn)

  • Helene Haker

    (University of Zurich and ETH Zurich)

  • Tobias Kalenscher

    (Heinrich Heine University)

  • Philippe N. Tobler

    (University of Zurich
    University of Zurich, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich)

Abstract

Women are known to have stronger prosocial preferences than men, but it remains an open question as to how these behavioural differences arise from differences in brain functioning. Here, we provide a neurobiological account for the hypothesized gender difference. In a pharmacological study and an independent neuroimaging study, we tested the hypothesis that the neural reward system encodes the value of sharing money with others more strongly in women than in men. In the pharmacological study, we reduced receptor type-specific actions of dopamine, a neurotransmitter related to reward processing, which resulted in more selfish decisions in women and more prosocial decisions in men. Converging findings from an independent neuroimaging study revealed gender-related activity in neural reward circuits during prosocial decisions. Thus, the neural reward system appears to be more sensitive to prosocial rewards in women than in men, providing a neurobiological account for why women often behave more prosocially than men.

Suggested Citation

  • Alexander Soutschek & Christopher J. Burke & Anjali Raja Beharelle & Robert Schreiber & Susanna C. Weber & Iliana I. Karipidis & Jolien ten Velden & Bernd Weber & Helene Haker & Tobias Kalenscher & Ph, 2017. "The dopaminergic reward system underpins gender differences in social preferences," Nature Human Behaviour, Nature, vol. 1(11), pages 819-827, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nathum:v:1:y:2017:i:11:d:10.1038_s41562-017-0226-y
    DOI: 10.1038/s41562-017-0226-y
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    Cited by:

    1. Alexander Soutschek & Marius Moisa & Christian C Ruff & Philippe N Tobler, 2020. "The right temporoparietal junction enables delay of gratification by allowing decision makers to focus on future events," PLOS Biology, Public Library of Science, vol. 18(8), pages 1-20, August.
    2. Zhang Jingchao & Koji Kotani & Tatsuyoshi Saijo, 2021. "Are societies becoming proself? A topographical difference under fast urbanization in China," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 23(9), pages 12976-12993, September.
    3. David W. Martin, 2019. "Gender Concerns When Noah the Economist Ranks Biodiversity Protection Policies," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 8(10), pages 1-13, October.
    4. repec:dav:journl:y:2019:v:8:i:10:p:282 is not listed on IDEAS

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