Correlation Between Crime, Oxytocin, and Generosity

• Main Author: Clark, Alexa R
• Format: Others
• Published: Scholarship @ Claremont 2014
• Subjects: Oxytocin; Crime; Psychopathy; Behavioral Economics
• Online Access: http://scholarship.claremont.edu/scripps_theses/388; http://scholarship.claremont.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1387&context=scripps_theses

This thesis examines the relationship between the type of crime of which an inmate is convicted, the change in oxytocin level, and the level of generosity of that inmate. The level of generosity is measured using a behavioral economics task called the Ultimatum Game. Studies of oxytocin have demonstrated that it is connected to generosity so it is illuminating to study it in conjunction with the generosity measure obtained in the Ultimatum Game. The results of the experiment indicate that there is no correlation between the type of crime of which an inmate is convicted and his generosity level.