Protective Role of Hormone Oxytocin in Monogamous Relationships

New benefit of oxytocin has just been discovered by a recent study. Men in monogamous relationships who just smelt a bit of the love hormone, exhibited more self-control and ensured they did not get too close to attractive members of the opposite sex.

Men in monogamous relationships who got a whiff of oxytocin began to keep a safe distance and did not show much interest when they were shown photographs of attractive looking women.

Research in the past had pointed out that oxytocin in the human brain inspires friendly behavior and boosts trust. There was also an assumption that men under the influence of oxytocin would draw closer to women and not move farther away.

"This was quite surprising," said Dr. Rene Hurlemann, a psychiatrist at the University of Bonn in Germany, who led the study.

The research has suggested that oxytocin does not just make people friendlier, it makes them more empathetic, supportive of their mates and helps adjust their behavior to suit the circumstance. 

Advertisement

Source-Medindia