Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Morality & Oxytocin

In previous posts I've talked about Oxytocin as one of our happy chemicals. And how using that, as opposed to dopamine, for dealing with difficult times in life is a healthier approach.
http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-athletes-way/201211/the-neurochemicals-happiness

3. Oxytocin: “The Bonding Molecule” Oxytocin is a hormone directly linked to human bonding and increasing trust and loyalty.  In some studies, high levels of oxytocin have been correlated with romanticattachment. Some studies show if a couple is separated for a long period of time, the lack of physical contact reduces oxytocin and drives the feeling of longing to bond with that person again. But there is some debate as to whether oxytocin has the same effect on men as it does on women. In men, vasopressin (a close cousin to oxytocin) may actually be the “bonding molecule.” But again, the bottom line is that skin-to-skin contact, affection, love making and intimacy are key to feeling happy.

Paul Zak, a neuroeconomist, has done some fascinating studies involving oxytocin. This first video tells a story about a terminally ill boy and his father. Those listening to the story had increased levels of cortisol (stress hormone) and oxytocin (empathy). What was interesting was he found people to be more charitable with the increase in oxytocin.


Oxytocin is tied to trust. If you can produce more oxytocin, you'll be more trusting and trustworthy. And ultimately more happy.

This next video delves more into oxytocin and its relationship to morality. He makes a lot of fascinating points in the video, so just watch it. But one funny study he did was taking oxytocin levels at a wedding. I don't know who would have agreed to that! But he found super high oxytocin in people at the wedding in concentric circles around the bride. HA!


The take away from all of this? His simple solution for producing more oxytocin.... hugs. In fact he says 8 hugs a day. Simple enough. So next time you're having a bad day, instead of hopping on your phone for a dopamine hit, or indulging in some unhealthy habit... find someone to hug. 

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