Effects of ecstasy on cooperative behaviour and perception of trustworthiness: A naturalistic study. (November 2014)
- Record Type:
- Journal Article
- Title:
- Effects of ecstasy on cooperative behaviour and perception of trustworthiness: A naturalistic study. (November 2014)
- Main Title:
- Effects of ecstasy on cooperative behaviour and perception of trustworthiness: A naturalistic study
- Authors:
- Stewart, LH
Ferguson, B
Morgan, CJA
Swaboda, N
Jones, L
Fenton, R
Wall, MB
Curran, HV - Abstract:
- Background: Acute recreational use of 3, 4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA; 'ecstasy') can promote pro-social effects which may alter interpersonal perceptions. Aims: To explore such effects, this study investigated whether acute recreational use of ecstasy was associated with changes in individual perception of trustworthiness of people's faces and co-operative behaviours. Method: An independent group, repeated measures design was used in which 17 ecstasy users were tested on the night of drug use (day 0) and again three days later (day 3); 22 controls were tested on parallel days. On each day, participants rated the trustworthiness of 66 faces, carried out three co-operative behaviour tasks (public good; dictator; ultimatum game) and completed mood self-ratings. Results: Acute ecstasy use was associated with increased face trustworthiness ratings and increased cooperative behaviour on the dictator and ultimatum games; on day 3 there were no group differences on any task. Self-ratings showed the standard acute ecstasy effects (euphoria, energy, jaw clenching) with negative effects (less empathy, compassion, more distrust, hostility) emerging on day 3. Conclusions: Our findings of increased perceived trustworthiness and co-operative behaviours following use of ecstasy suggest that a single dose of the drug enhances aspects of empathy. This may in turn contribute to its popularity as a recreational drug and potentially to its enhancement of the therapeutic alliance inBackground: Acute recreational use of 3, 4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA; 'ecstasy') can promote pro-social effects which may alter interpersonal perceptions. Aims: To explore such effects, this study investigated whether acute recreational use of ecstasy was associated with changes in individual perception of trustworthiness of people's faces and co-operative behaviours. Method: An independent group, repeated measures design was used in which 17 ecstasy users were tested on the night of drug use (day 0) and again three days later (day 3); 22 controls were tested on parallel days. On each day, participants rated the trustworthiness of 66 faces, carried out three co-operative behaviour tasks (public good; dictator; ultimatum game) and completed mood self-ratings. Results: Acute ecstasy use was associated with increased face trustworthiness ratings and increased cooperative behaviour on the dictator and ultimatum games; on day 3 there were no group differences on any task. Self-ratings showed the standard acute ecstasy effects (euphoria, energy, jaw clenching) with negative effects (less empathy, compassion, more distrust, hostility) emerging on day 3. Conclusions: Our findings of increased perceived trustworthiness and co-operative behaviours following use of ecstasy suggest that a single dose of the drug enhances aspects of empathy. This may in turn contribute to its popularity as a recreational drug and potentially to its enhancement of the therapeutic alliance in psychotherapy. … (more)
- Is Part Of:
- Journal of psychopharmacology. Volume 28:Number 11(2014:Nov.)
- Journal:
- Journal of psychopharmacology
- Issue:
- Volume 28:Number 11(2014:Nov.)
- Issue Display:
- Volume 28, Issue 11 (2014)
- Year:
- 2014
- Volume:
- 28
- Issue:
- 11
- Issue Sort Value:
- 2014-0028-0011-0000
- Page Start:
- 1001
- Page End:
- 1008
- Publication Date:
- 2014-11
- Subjects:
- Co-operation -- trust -- pro-social -- ecstasy -- 3, 4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine -- psychological therapy -- acute -- sub-acute
Psychopharmacology -- Periodicals
615.78 - Journal URLs:
- http://jop.sagepub.com/ ↗
http://www.uk.sagepub.com/home.nav ↗ - DOI:
- 10.1177/0269881114544775 ↗
- Languages:
- English
- ISSNs:
- 0269-8811
- Deposit Type:
- Legaldeposit
- View Content:
- Available online (eLD content is only available in our Reading Rooms) ↗
- Physical Locations:
- British Library DSC - BLDSS-3PM
British Library HMNTS - ELD Digital store - Ingest File:
- 6055.xml