So, I was screwing around on YouTube as usual when I stumbled across this fascinating lecture. Watch it; it's worth your time.
Anyway, the lecture discussed how the interplay of hormones greatly influenced our "moral" behavior. The two he talked about were oxytocin and testosterone, with his experiments involving oxytocin being the primary focus of the lecture. Brain science interests me enough by itself, but what makes it relevant here is how the behaviors these two hormones tended to correlate with also correlate with the paragon/renegade system.
Oxytocin: Trust and trustworthiness, generousity, nuturing behavior. Increased by hugs, intimacy, and doing charitable acts. Higher in females. Reflects the paragon's orientation towards cooperativeness, helping others, and mercifulness. The paragon cares about people.
Testosterone: Selfishness, competitiveness, justice through punishment (less information on this from the lecture because oxytocin was the focus). Higher in males. Reflects the renegade's standoffishness, adherence to concrete principles and logical efficiency, higher prominence towards violence, and human-centric agenda. The renegade cares about the cause.
Now, I'm not saying which one of these are superior (they're both valid gameplay paths, and both hormones are important in individuals as well as societies), but it got me wondering if there was some sort of actual connection between these hormone levels and preferred moral path.
I think it'd be sort of fun to take blood samples from people playing Mass Effect and measure this stuff before and after major points in the game. Based on what I heard (and I might research this further for gits and shiggles), I'm willing to wager that taking more paragon interrupts and participating in the romantic subplots will cause an increase in oxytocin.
Anyway, what do you guys think? Would you like to see how playing ME might affect your brain chemistry? Any grad students willing to set up an experiment?
Paragon, Renegade, and... hormones?
Débuté par
AdmiralCheez
, nov. 12 2011 10:47
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#2
Posté 12 novembre 2011 - 10:50
marshalleck
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AdmiralCheez wrote...
I think it'd be sort of fun to take blood samples from people playing Mass Effect and measure this stuff before and after major points in the game. Based on what I heard (and I might research this further for gits and shiggles), I'm willing to wager that taking more paragon interrupts and participating in the romantic subplots will cause an increase in oxytocin.
Will it? Or would increased levels of oxytocin result in more paragon interrupts and romances?
Hmmm.
#3
Posté 12 novembre 2011 - 10:59
Geth_Prime
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Interesting, Cheez. I'd willingly donate some blood. For SCIENCE!
Although, finding a large enough test sample would be...problematic.
Although, finding a large enough test sample would be...problematic.
#4
Posté 12 novembre 2011 - 11:00
Arcadian Legend
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Well, for a guy I'm unnaturally low on testosterone, so I need to take these monthly injections to keep it high. Dunno about that oxytocin stuff but I think it shows how I try to keep in mind other people and I get on really well and work well with others too. I have my bad moments though where the testosterone can kick in and I can act pretty much like all the above. I think this actually reflects on how I play as a Paragade rather well come to think of it..
There just may be some truth to this.
There just may be some truth to this.
Modifié par DarkRiku7, 12 novembre 2011 - 11:02 .
#5
Posté 12 novembre 2011 - 11:02
marshalleck
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brony correlation?DarkRiku7 wrote...
Well, for a guy I'm unnaturally low on testosterone, so I need to take these monthly injections to keep it high. I think it shows how I try to keep in mind other people and I get on really well and work well with others too. I have my bad moments though where the testosterone can kick in and I can act pretty much like all the above. I think this actually reflects on how I play as a Paragade rather well.
There just may be some truth to this.
#7
Posté 12 novembre 2011 - 11:03
AdmiralCheez
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Hormones are fuzzy like that. For example, giving or getting a hug raises oxytocin, but more oxytocin makes you more likely to hug people. Same goes for neurotransmitters, actually: a higher baseline level of dopamine makes you more likely to engage in high-risk activities and get pumped up about stuff, but your dopamine actually goes up from doing those things. Thankfully, ours brains and bodies are complex and adaptable enough that we (usually) don't get stuck in the positive feedback loop.marshalleck wrote...
Will it? Or would increased levels of oxytocin result in more paragon interrupts and romances?
Hmmm.
#8
Posté 12 novembre 2011 - 11:03
Arcadian Legend
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marshalleck wrote...
brony correlation?DarkRiku7 wrote...
Well, for a guy I'm unnaturally low on testosterone, so I need to take these monthly injections to keep it high. I think it shows how I try to keep in mind other people and I get on really well and work well with others too. I have my bad moments though where the testosterone can kick in and I can act pretty much like all the above. I think this actually reflects on how I play as a Paragade rather well.
There just may be some truth to this.
Maybe, I dunno about that lol.
#9
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Posté 12 novembre 2011 - 11:10
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I favorited this lecture. Thanks for refering this to us! I always thought of sex as a way to get closer and bond with people. Like Kelly said... "Intamacy brings understanding". But personality and overall character does play a role into it.
Sorry went a little off topic there.
Anyway, this was pretty darn facinating. But when it comes to Mass Effect it all boils down to the species and the conflict surrounding them. For example, I am for peace between the Geth and Quarians. But I dont like the quarians that much because all of them ( excluding koris/reegar/tali to a certain extend ) They all are so damn close minded about destroying the geth. I feel empathy towards helping the krogan only if Wrex is the Urdnot. If it is Wreave then i destroy the cure. Its all about my perception on the character and race first.
Sorry went a little off topic there.
Anyway, this was pretty darn facinating. But when it comes to Mass Effect it all boils down to the species and the conflict surrounding them. For example, I am for peace between the Geth and Quarians. But I dont like the quarians that much because all of them ( excluding koris/reegar/tali to a certain extend ) They all are so damn close minded about destroying the geth. I feel empathy towards helping the krogan only if Wrex is the Urdnot. If it is Wreave then i destroy the cure. Its all about my perception on the character and race first.
#10
Posté 12 novembre 2011 - 11:14
BatmanPWNS
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Interesting but I wouldn't let my blood be sampled over a game.
#11
Posté 12 novembre 2011 - 11:18
AdmiralCheez
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Pal, I still need someone to hold my hand when I get a flu shot. Needles and I don't get along.BatmanPWNS wrote...
Interesting but I wouldn't let my blood be sampled over a game.
#12
Posté 12 novembre 2011 - 11:27
Arcadian Legend
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AdmiralCheez wrote...
Pal, I still need someone to hold my hand when I get a flu shot. Needles and I don't get along.BatmanPWNS wrote...
Interesting but I wouldn't let my blood be sampled over a game.
I've had to deal with needles my whole life, I'm practitcally immune to the pain now. I could even watch the needle go in without flinching. I still cringe a little when hearing the words "blood test" come up in conversation at the hospital regardless, funnily enough.
#13
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Posté 12 novembre 2011 - 11:30
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Interesting. Of course we can't do anything about this, so that's all I can say...interesting.
#14
Posté 12 novembre 2011 - 11:30
AdmiralCheez
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Yeah, there's something inherently creepy about drawing blood, to the point where I get jittery and queasy just thinking about it. I still entertain the occasional conspiracy theory involving vampires or something equally ridiculous.DarkRiku7 wrote...
I've had to deal with needles my whole life, I'm practitcally immune to the pain now. I could even watch the needle go in without flinching. I still cringe a little when hearing the words "blood test" come up in conversation at the hospital regardless, funnily enough.
Anyway, enough off-topic shenanigans.
#15
Posté 13 novembre 2011 - 03:11
Anacronian Stryx
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I will only donate blood to science when the day arrives where science makes good on the promised jet packs!
*scowls at science*
I'm watching you!
*scowls at science*
I'm watching you!
#16
Posté 13 novembre 2011 - 03:13
didymos1120
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Anacronian Stryx wrote...
I will only donate blood to science when the day arrives where science makes good on the promised jet packs!
*scowls at science*
I'm watching you!
Here you go:
http://martinjetpack.com/
#17
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Posté 13 novembre 2011 - 03:16
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didymos1120 wrote...
Anacronian Stryx wrote...
I will only donate blood to science when the day arrives where science makes good on the promised jet packs!
*scowls at science*
I'm watching you!
Here you go:
http://martinjetpack.com/
Isn't that the one with that big test in Popular Science where he free-fell from really high up?
#19
Posté 13 novembre 2011 - 03:19
Anacronian Stryx
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didymos1120 wrote...
Anacronian Stryx wrote...
I will only donate blood to science when the day arrives where science makes good on the promised jet packs!
*scowls at science*
I'm watching you!
Here you go:
http://martinjetpack.com/
Jetpacks driven by turbofans are fake!!!
#20
Posté 13 novembre 2011 - 03:23
didymos1120
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Anacronian Stryx wrote...
didymos1120 wrote...
Anacronian Stryx wrote...
I will only donate blood to science when the day arrives where science makes good on the promised jet packs!
*scowls at science*
I'm watching you!
Here you go:
http://martinjetpack.com/
Jetpacks driven by turbofans are fake!!!
Um, no they're not:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turbofan
#21
Guest_iOnlySignIn_*
Posté 13 novembre 2011 - 05:42
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I think the reverse of your experiment would be more effective and feasible:AdmiralCheez wrote...
I'm willing to wager that taking more paragon interrupts and participating in the romantic subplots will cause an increase in oxytocin.
Everyone go out and lift weights. That increases testoterone levels. Come back from the gym, boot up ME, and BOOM. Renegade choices suddenly sound a lot more sensible to you, don't they?
Or better yet, take the study to two different schools, one in which the students do a lot more sports (especially competitive team sports like football) on average. Given each one of them a free copy of ME2 (research funding). Chances are the more sporty school will be more Renegade, if the two schools are similar in other aspects (gender ratio, age group, etc.).
On an even larger scale. Does the American culture's focus on sports and fitness, especially competitive team sports, makes the general population more selfish, competitive, violent, and logically efficient? Contrast that with a culture in which testoterone-fueling sports activies are not so popular, such as India.
Modifié par iOnlySignIn, 13 novembre 2011 - 05:57 .
#22
Posté 13 novembre 2011 - 06:44
Codyacsmith
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I'll wait for the electric, slim, long distance version. That thing does look fun. Can it even reach high speeds?
#24
Posté 13 novembre 2011 - 07:23
Clara Shepard
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Am I... the only one... who sees Admiral said men are more likely to be mean and women are more likely to be nice?
Well folks, I like how the Admiral thinks! *rubs hands while maniacally laughing*
Well folks, I like how the Admiral thinks! *rubs hands while maniacally laughing*
#25
Posté 13 novembre 2011 - 09:27
Meshaber
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Putting any political correctness aside, does anyone seriously think otherwise?Clara Shepard wrote...
Am I... the only one... who sees Admiral said men are more likely to be mean and women are more likely to be nice?
Well folks, I like how the Admiral thinks! *rubs hands while maniacally laughing*
OT: Intriguing, and feasible.
