Want to know the Psychological perspective of Oxytocin?
Here it is…
- From psychological viewpoint, Oxytocin has been implicated in the etiology of autism, with one report suggesting autism is linked with genomic deletion of the gene containing the oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR). Studies involving Caucasian and Finnish samples and Chinese Han families also provide support for the relationship of OXTR with autism.
- Oxytocin has an important role in social behaviours in many species, so it likely also does in humans. In a 2003 study, both humans and dog oxytocin levels in the blood rose after five to 24 minutes of a petting session. This probably plays a role in the emotional bonding between humans and dogs.
- Often maternal behaviour gets commenced due to oxytosin. Female rats given oxytocin antagonists after giving birth do not exhibit typical maternal behavior. On the other hand, virgin female sheep show maternal behaviour toward foreign lambs upon cerebrospinal fluid infusion of oxytocin, which they would not do otherwise. It is primarily involved in the initiation of maternal behavior, not its maintenance; for example, it is higher in mothers after they interact with unfamiliar children rather than their own children.
- This hormone can enhance positive attitudes, such as bonding, toward individuals with similar characteristics, who then become classified as “in-group” members, whereas individuals who are dissimilar become classified as “out-group” members. Race can be used as an example of in-group and out-group tendencies because society often classifies individuals into groups based on race (Caucasian, African American, Latino, etc.). One famous study that examined race and empathy found that participants receiving nasally administered oxytocin had stronger reactions to pictures of in-group members making pained faces than to pictures of out-group members with the same expression.
- Oxytocin is typically considered for the consequence it has on prosocial behaviours, such as its role in facilitating faith and attachment between individuals. Consequently, the hormone is often referred to as the “love hormone”. Nevertheless, it has a more multifaceted role than exclusively enhancing prosocial behaviours. There is consensus that oxytocin alters fear and anxiety; that is, it does not directly elicit fear or anxiety. Nasally administered oxytocin has been reported to decrease fear, possibly by inhibiting the amygdala (which is thought to be accountable for fear responses).
- Some researchers have argued oxytocin has a general enhancing outcome on all social emotions, since intranasal administration of oxytocin also amplifies envy and Schadenfreude. Individuals who receive an intranasal dose of oxytocin recognize facial expressions of disgust faster than persons who do not receive the hormone.
- It produces antidepressant-like effects in animal models of depression, and a scarcity of it may be involved in the pathophysiology of depression in humans. The antidepressant-like effects of oxytocin are not blocked by a selective antagonist of the oxytocin receptor, suggesting that these effects are not mediated by the receptor.
- It has been shown that the hormone differentially affects males and females. Females who are administered oxytocin are overall faster in responding to socially relevant stimuli than males who received it. Additionally, after the administration of the hormone, females show increased amygdala activity in response to threatening scenes; however, males do not show increased amygdala activation.
- It has also been shown that testosterone directly suppresses oxytocin in mice. This has been hypothesized to have evolutionary significance. With oxytocin suppressed, activities such as hunting and attacking invaders would be less mentally difficult as the hormone is strongly associated with empathy.
- Serious methodological questions have arisen, however, with regard to the role of oxytocin in trust, faith and generosity. Empathy in healthy males has been shown to be increased after intranasal oxytocin. Trust is increased by the hormone. Disclosure of emotional events is a sign of trust in humans. When recounting a negative event, humans who receive intranasal oxytocin share more emotional details and stories with more emotional significance.
- Some studies vividly indicate that high levels of plasma oxytocin have been associated with romantic attachment. For instance, if a couple is separated for a long period of time, anxiety can increase due to the lack of physical affection. The hormone may assist romantically attached couples by lessening their emotions of anxiety when they are separated.
- Sex is one of our biggest obsessions — causing thrills, anguish and downright confusion. But until recently, exactly what happens in the brain for the duration of sex was something of a mystery to scientists. A dose of the oxytocin may make people’s orgasms more intense, a new study from German based research group suggests. However, the hormone had no consequence on sex drive or arousal for either men or women, nor did it affect the ability to accomplish an erection for men, or vaginal lubrication for women.
