Oxytocin the hormone of love, but also hate?

Researchers experimenting on human participants with a synthetic form of the naturally occurring hormone oxytocin have observed that it encourages feelings of envy and other negative emotions, as well as positive feelings.

Oxytocin, known as the ‘love hormone’, is released into the body at certain times, such as during sexual intercourse or childbirth, and is associated with feelings of trust, empathy and generosity. However, a study at Haifa University in Israel, lead by Simone Shamay-Tsoory, discovered that oxytocin prompted negative emotions in participants when the association was to negative experiences. Subjects inhaled a synthetic form of the hormone and were then asked to play a game of luck against a computer, disguised as another player. When participants lost to their ‘opponent’, researchers observed that they experienced higher levels of envy, and that they gloated more when their ‘opponent’ lost. Other participants who had not inhaled oxytocin had lower levels of both emotions. Interestingly, the effects of oxytocin were only apparent during the course of the game, but apparently not after.

The study builds on previous research into the effects of oxytocin which, it is hoped, could be used to treat behavioural disorders such as autism.

(Source: University of Haifa)

For more information, contact Rachel Feldman at rfeldman@univ.haifa.ac.il

Published: Thursday, 12th November 2009

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