Rodriguez-Ruiz Claudia, Lupu Denisa Cristina, Fernandez-Martinez Ana Belen, Pita Miguel, Turiegano Enrique
Departamento de Biología, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Calle Darwin nº2, Campus de Cantoblanco, Madrid, 28049, Spain.
Sci Rep. 2025 Jul 10;15(1):24901. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-10817-1.
Numerous studies have examined how morphological features showing sex differences relate to prosocial behaviors, often yielding contradictory results. However, these studies have never simultaneously considered the affinity of sex hormone receptors alongside variables such as sex-related facial morphology. In this study, we analyze their combined effect on behavior in three economic games: the prisoner's dilemma, the dictator game, and the ultimatum game, as well as participants' considerations regarding these games. Our results indicate that facial morphology and genetic polymorphisms in sex hormone receptors associated with hormone-binding affinity have an effect on prosocial behavior. These effects are often significant in women but not in men. When polymorphisms are included in the models, facial shape difference emerges as a relevant variable. Regarding hormone receptors, polymorphisms in the androgen receptor and β estrogen receptor genes, but not in the α estrogen receptor, show behavioral effects. Short androgen receptor alleles are associated with making larger offers and expecting less generosity. In women, greater facial differentiation shows similar effects, while larger β estrogen receptor alleles are linked to requiring higher offers. Overall, our findings point to the value of jointly considering receptor affinity and proxies for hormone exposure when exploring their relationship with prosocial behavior.
众多研究探讨了显示性别差异的形态特征与亲社会行为之间的关系，结果往往相互矛盾。然而，这些研究从未同时考虑性激素受体的亲和力以及与性别相关的面部形态等变量。在本研究中，我们分析了它们在三种经济博弈中的综合行为效应：囚徒困境、独裁者博弈和最后通牒博弈，以及参与者对这些博弈的考量。我们的结果表明，与激素结合亲和力相关的面部形态和性激素受体基因多态性对亲社会行为有影响。这些影响在女性中通常显著，而在男性中则不然。当模型中纳入多态性时，面部形状差异成为一个相关变量。关于激素受体，雄激素受体和β雌激素受体基因的多态性显示出行为效应，而α雌激素受体基因的多态性则未显示出行为效应。雄激素受体短等位基因与提供更多份额和期望更少慷慨程度有关。在女性中，更大的面部差异显示出类似的效应，而更大的β雌激素受体等位基因与要求更高份额有关。总体而言，我们的研究结果表明，在探索受体亲和力和激素暴露指标与亲社会行为的关系时，联合考虑它们具有重要价值。
