Moral judgment and hormones: A systematic literature review

PLoS One. 2022 Apr 6;17(4):e0265693. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0265693. eCollection 2022.

Abstract

This systematic review of the literature aims to evaluate possible associations between moral judgment and hormones. The electronic databases PsycINFO, PubMed, Scielo, Web of Science, Scopus, and LILACS were used. Twenty studies with different methodological designs were reviewed, covering the hormones cortisol, oxytocin, and testosterone, assessing aspects related to polymorphisms in receptor genes, endogenous levels, and exogenous administration. Taken together, the reviewed studies showed a trend towards an association between hormones and moral judgment, with important specificities involving biological, environmental, and individual aspects. Endogenous levels of cortisol, released under stress, showed negative associations with altruistic and utilitarian decisions only in highly emotionally charged dilemmas. Oxytocin receptor gene polymorphisms (rs2268498, rs237889, and rs2254298) and acute administration of this hormone were associated with variability in moral judgment, with sex as an important moderating variable. Testosterone studies have tended to show a positive association with utilitarian moral judgments, particularly in female and in individuals with low prenatal exposure to this hormone. Knowing how hormones influence moral judgment may help expand our understanding of the plurality of human behavior. However, this area of research is new and still little explored, which does not allow for conclusions with a high level of evidence. Subsequent research will benefit from methodological improvements to extend current findings.

Publication types

  • Systematic Review
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hydrocortisone*
  • Judgment*
  • Morals
  • Receptors, Oxytocin
  • Testosterone

Substances

  • Receptors, Oxytocin
  • Testosterone
  • Hydrocortisone

Grants and funding

This research was supported by the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES Foundation –Process 88887.510421/2020-00) and by the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq – Productivity Research Fellows - Process No. 302601/2019-8).