Adult male-female bonds are partly characterized by initiating and maintaining close proximity with a social partner, as well as engaging in high levels of affiliative and sociosexual behavior. Oxytocin (OXT), a neuromodulatory nonapeptide, plays a critical role in the facilitation of social bonding and prosocial behavior toward a social partner (Feldman, 2012). However, less attention has been given to whether augmentation of OXT levels in an individual alters others’ perceptions and behavior toward an OXT-treated social partner. We examined social dynamics in well-established male-female pairs of marmoset monkeys (Callithrix jacchus) in which one member of the pair was administered an intranasal OXT agonist, an OXT antagonist (OXTA), or saline. OXT treatment did not alter the expression of affiliative toward an untreated partner. However, OXT did significantly influence the expression of proximity and grooming behavior with a treated partner, as a function of OXT treatment and sex. Female interest in initiating and maintaining proximity with a pair-mate was altered by OXT treatment. Untreated female marmosets departed from their saline-treated partner more frequently than they approached them, as indicated by a low proximity index score. However, when males received an intranasal OXT agonist they had a significantly increased proximity index score relative to saline, indicating that their untreated partner approached them more often than they departed from them). Saline-treated females initiated and received equivalent levels of grooming behavior. However, when female marmosets were treated with an OXT agonist their untreated partner groomed them proportionately more often, for a greater total duration, and for more time per bout, than they initiated grooming behavior. These results suggest that intranasal OXT altered male and female marmosets’ stimulus properties in such a way as to increase the amount of grooming behavior that females received from their long-term mate, as well as increase female interest in initiating and maintaining proximity with their long-term mate. Furthermore, these results support the notion that central OXT activity plays an important neuromodulatory role in the maintenance of long-lasting male-female relationships.

Both gestational cortisol exposure (GCE) and variability in postnatal environments can shape the later-life behavioral and endocrine outcomes of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. We examined the influence of GCE and social play on HPA functioning in developing marmosets. Maternal urinary cortisol samples were collected across pregnancy to determine GCE for 28 marmoset offspring (19 litters). We administered a social separation stressor to offspring at 6, 12, and 18 months of age, during which we collected urinary cortisol samples and behavioral observations. Increased GCE was associated with increased basal cortisol levels and cortisol reactivity, but the strength of this relationship decreased across age. Increased social play was associated with decreased basal cortisol levels and a marginally greater reduction in cortisol reactivity as offspring aged, regardless of offspring GCE. Thus, GCE is associated with HPA functioning, but socially enriching postnatal environments can alter the effects associated with increased fetal exposure to glucocorticoids.

The timing of reproductive maturation is susceptible to hormonal and environmental influences, and variation in this timing can be partially attributed to the prenatal and post-natal environment. We examined associations between prenatal steroid exposure and the post-natal family environment on the variability in reproductive maturation timing in young marmosets (Callithrix geoffroyi). Urine samples from pregnant females were analyzed for cortisol (CORT) and androgens (uA). Post-natal uA was measured in males to determine age (in days) of adult-like levels of androgens associated with spermatogenesis; post-natal pregnanediol glucuronide (PdG) was measured in females to determine age (in days) of first ovulation. Maternal, paternal, alloparental, and total care (carrying, grooming, and rejection/removals) of offspring were observed. Female offspring exposed to lower prenatal uA levels and higher paternal grooming and lower maternal rejection/removals showed later first ovulation, whereas female offspring exposed to higher prenatal uA showed earlier first ovulation. Male offspring showed earlier reproductive maturation as paternal grooming increased, regardless of first trimester uA exposure. Male offspring exposed to low prenatal uA levels showed earlier reproductive maturation as maternal rejections/removals increased. In offspring exposed to low prenatal CORT, high total carrying predicted earlier first ovulation in females, but later reproductive maturation in males. Total carrying duration did not affect timing of reproductive maturation in offspring exposed to high third trimester CORT levels. Our findings expand the evolutionary theory of socialization by demonstrating that the effect of post-natal family environment on timing of reproductive maturation depends on prenatal uA exposure and also influences reproductive maturation timing in male offspring.

We examined 137 incidents of potentially lethal, weapon-enabled, targeted violence at health care facilities between 2008 and 2017 in the U.S. using open-source data. Individually held grievances by the perpetrator were commonly present. Perpetrators most commonly targeted one person, though collateral victimization did occur. Two thirds of cases involved at least one fatality. Firearm use outnumbered other forms of attack, followed distally by stabbing, blunt force trauma, and strangulation. Hospitals and residential care facilities represented the overwhelming majority of venues; patient rooms, main corridors/waiting areas, and parking areas were the most common locations of attack within facilities. Various attack characteristics, including weapon choice, perpetrator and victim relationship to the venue, incident location within a venue, were more frequently observed for certain motivations. Incidents involving an existing/former intimate relationship between the perpetrator and victim represented the largest proportion of cases. Preincident warning behaviors were most likely reported in cases motivated by disgruntlement with a perpetrator's own care or by intimate partner animus (IPA), and least likely in cases motivated by "mercy" or despondence over a loved one's health. These attacks usually continued until concluded by the perpetrator; perpetrator suicide occurred in a minority of cases. Potential mitigation measures are proposed for threat assessment professionals and facility staff. Public Significance StatementOur study revealed differences in perpetrator, attack, and victim characteristics based on motive for attack and expanded the current literature body on targeted attacks by including multiple types of health care facilities and weapons. The findings highlight unique vulnerabilities associated with each motive.

911 calls reporting the mysterious disappearance of a child may contain information critical to law enforcement. If this information is untruthful, valuable resources can be misdirected and precious time may be lost. Therefore, the current study examined verbal cues of veracity and deception in 911 calls placed by caregivers of missing children.