Stress & Social Decision Making

Contact: Bernadette von Dawans

Although there are many studies on various situational and qualitatively different aspects of stressors, the underlying biological mechanisms are not yet fully understood. This is particularly true for the stress hormone cortisol. In this current study, a pharmacological strategy to increase cortisol levels will help to clarify these issues by controlling for a wide range of situational influences that commonly accompany psychosocial stress tests (e.g., such as the TSST). Behavioral economics paradigms for measuring trust, trustworthiness, sharing, punishment, and risk (von Dawans et al., 2012) are used to study social behavior.

Related publications

  • von Dawans, B., Strojny, J., & Domes, G. (2021). The effects of acute stress and stress hormones on social cognition and behavior: Current state of research and future directions. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 121, 75–88. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.11.026