[image source]I can see it now - oxytocin nasal spray to keep couples "in love" with other, no matter what.
I'm not sure what I think of this. Personally, I'd love a product that could reduce cortisol. This natural hormone is the enemy of athletes trying to get strong and lean.
And then there is the application for weight loss. Rather than wasting money on one of the stupid and worthless "cortisol reduction" supplements for weight loss, you could just sniff some oxytocin - lower cortisol and no chocolate cravings.
Yet, as far as relationships go, being able to arguing compassionately is crucial to a healthy and growing relationship, so I don't really think this is a good idea. You can't just substitute drugs for empathy - we the empathy skill.
Natural Hormone Reduces Stress Hormones In Arguing Couples
ScienceDaily (Dec. 8, 2008) — A dose of the hormone Oxytocin reduces the stress hormone Cortisol in arguing couples. In addition, Oxytocin strengthens positive behaviour, as researchers at the University of Zurich have discovered.
Various studies in recent years have repeatedly shown that the hormone Oxytocin in the brain of mammals – and therefore human beings too – is jointly responsible for regulating the social behaviour. Beate Ditzen from the Psychological Institute of the UZH has now, together with colleagues from the University of Zurich, examined the hormone particularly in terms of the behaviour in partnerships.
The scientists asked 47 couples aged between 20 and 50 to argue in the laboratory about a typical subject of conflict for them. Before this conflict discussion, the couples received either the hormone Oxytocin or a placebo in the form of a nasal spray. The behaviour of the couples was recorded on video and analysed with the aid of a coding system. Moreover, the stress hormone Cortisol was repeatedly measured in the saliva of both partners in order to record the psychobiological stress reaction to the conflict.
Beate Ditzen and her colleagues then assessed the positive behaviour, such as listening, confirming or laughing during the conflict in relation to the negative conflict behaviour such as interrupting, criticising or degrading the partner. "Couples that received Oxytocin behaved significantly more positively than couples with the placebo", said Beate Ditzen in summarising the results. Oxytocin prolongs the duration of positive behaviour in relation to negative behaviour. In addition, the Cortisol values of couples who received Oxytocin were lower after the conflict than those of the placebo group.
The results suggest that Oxytocin as a neuronal mechanism might influence the behaviour and the stress reaction in couples. "Oxytocin might be a possible biological candidate to explain how close relationships – and particularly couple relationships – have a positive effect on our health" explains Beate Ditzen.
Journal reference:
- Ditzen et al. Intranasal Oxytocin Increases Positive Communication and Reduces Cortisol Levels During Couple Conflict. Biological Psychiatry, 2008; DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2008.10.011
Adapted from materials provided by University of Zurich.
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