Oxytocin, the hormone of happiness… and fidelity

The effect of oxytocin on human happiness is well known. This hormone is released while we play sports, dance, sing or hug. Although it has been discovered that it is also responsible for fidelity between couples.

A scientific team led by Hurlemann (2010), from the University of Bonn, has pointed out that this hormone administered to men increases fidelity. According to these results, oxytocin would strengthen monogamous relationships. In this way, we could call it the “loyalty hormone.”

What is oxytocin?

Oxytocin is produced in the hypothalamus and is necessary for childbirth and lactation.. Furthermore, this hormone is directly involved in the creation of social bonds. Also, in increasing trust between individuals. Perhaps, if it is at its appropriate levels, our relationships with others will be better, by being more receptive and empathetic with others.

A group of scientists wanted to study the role of oxytocin in maintaining monogamous relationships. In the research supervised by René Hurlemann (2010) they administered oxytocin or a placebo to a group of heterosexual men.

After half an hour, the men were shown a woman who they would later describe as “seductive.” The woman had to move around the volunteers, while the men were asked to indicate what they considered a “correct distance” or a “dangerous distance.”

The surprising result of the study

The experts discovered that the Married or partnered men who were administered oxytocin maintained a distance much greater when approached or seduced by the attractive stranger, compared to those who received a placebo.

However, oxytocin caused another equally astonishing result. It had no effect whatsoever on singles. Previous research with mice already identified this hormone as the key to fidelity in the animal species.

The new study makes it clear that oxytocin may have a similar role in humans. Oxytocin is known to increase confidence in people. For this reason, it was assumed that men under the influence of the hormone would become even closer to attractive women, but the opposite happened, explains Hurlemann.

Men in a stable relationship who were given oxytocin kept a greater distance from the woman than single men. In the latter, this hormone had no effect and they behaved feeling attracted to the seductive woman.

More effects of oxytocin

The effect of oxytocin on monogamous men caused them to feel nothing and even reject the beautiful woman. At times, many men even considered women unattractive, perhaps as a resource to maintain fidelity with their partner.

Scientists also realized that oxytocin had no effect on men if they were introduced to another male. This study suggests that The general function of oxytocin is the promotion of monogamous behavior that occurs in rodents and also in man.

What do you think about this study? We have discovered that this hormone that was previously only associated with happiness can now also have a potential relevance in fidelity in relationships. What else will we discover about her?

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