Oxytocin, also
known as the “love hormone,” is said to be the hormone that promotes bonding
between parents and children, increases trust, and reduces conflict between
couples. Researchers have also found that couples with high levels of oxytocin
in their bodies are more likely to have longer relationships than those couples who
have lower levels of this hormone.
A new study
from Germany suggests that oxytocin may help maintain romantic relationships by
prompting men to keep their distance from attractive women.
In the study,
57 heterosexual men were involved. About the half of them who were in
monogamous relationships were given an oxytocin nasal spray, and the rest of
them were given just a placebo. The trial and control group were introduced to
an attractive woman they did not know and the men who received the hormone
nasal spray stayed about four inches farther away from the woman, compared with
the rest of the men who received a placebo.
The same was
done with single men and the oxytocin spray had no effect on the distance they
chose to keep between themselves and the attractive woman. The same happened when
introduced to a man.
Intranasal delivery of oxytocin can also improve communication in couples, improve
discernment of emotions from facial expressions, increase trust and generosity
toward group members, and reduce social anxiety.
According to
Dr. René Hurlemann, of the University of Bonn, the findings suggest that the
hormone promotes fidelity in humans; however, further studies are needed in
order to determine exactly how oxytocin may act on the brain to affect
behavior, the researchers said.
Personally, I
think this is a way of forcing someone to be with you or to trust in you. Don't you believe that
if someone wants to be your partner, does not have to be given a nasal spray of
oxytocin in order not to cheat on you? Wouldn't you prefer to increase your
couple’s levels of oxytocin through touching and eye-gazing, for example, as for have a longer romantic relationship?
What do you think of this ad?
Giving this hormone to your couple is kind of creepy and sad, since if you are with that person, it is because both of you want to be together, so there should not be reason to be with him/her if that person is not able to be loyal. Furthermore, the researchers of this study said that there is no evidence that a dose of oxytocin given after a couple gets together contributes to the upkeep of the relationship.
ReplyDeleteHowever, oxytocin may be really useful for insecure people who think they are always being cheated.
That's exactly what I thought when I read and then saw the ad.
DeleteI agree with Katherine,a faithful couple has the same chance to succeed as any other couple, you need more than loyalty or trust to build a long lasting commitment.
ReplyDeleteThat's creepy indeed. But as you all said, couples should be together because they both want to be together, and because they both want to be involved in a relationship based on feeling, not because one person wants someone else. I don't know if people that have his mind working properly would use this, but for me, it seems like a psychopath would make use of this spray.
ReplyDelete