Shifting the sociometer: opioid receptor blockade lowers self-esteem.
Level 2 - randomized trial
Placebo-controlled counterbalanced crossover pharmacological trial in humans
PubMed 36961732 · doi:10.1093/scan/nsad017
What was done
In a counterbalanced, within-subjects crossover design, 26 male and female participants received an oral dose of 50 mg naltrexone (an opioid receptor antagonist) and a placebo on two testing sessions spaced approximately 1 week apart. Investigators assessed self-reported self-esteem (specifically self-liking) and measured attentional bias toward accepting (smiling) faces.
What was found
The abstract reports qualitative directions without numerical data, test statistics, or confidence intervals. Relative to placebo, participants on naltrexone reported lower self-esteem (particularly self-liking) and exhibited a heightened attentional bias towards accepting faces.
Why it matters
This study provides experimental pharmacological evidence linking endogenous opioids to the psychological sociometer theory, suggesting opioid signaling may help maintain self-esteem and regulate social connection-seeking.
Limits
The sample size is small (n = 26), limiting statistical power and precision. The abstract provides no exact numerical values, effect sizes, or p-values. As an acute single-dose laboratory study, results may not generalize to chronic opioid blockade, natural physiological variation, or clinical populations.
Cited by
- supports Psychological theory posits that self-esteem functions as an internal monitor or gauge of how well an individual is socially accepted and getting along with others.