theorizing
that one way in which oxytocin might induce prosocial
behavior is by encouraging a communal, other-orientation
characterized by a focus on others and interpersonal
affiliation. Further, we sought to use this framework to
understand the seemingly contradictory findings that
oxytocin promotes prosocial cognition and behavior in
people who are low in affiliation (e.g., avoidant individuals),
but not in those who are preoccupied with
closeness (e.g., anxiously attached individuals). We reasoned
that increasing a communal, other-orientation
should be especially helpful (socially) to individuals
who lack communion because,