'Tis the season to be contrary
22 Dec 2008 by Evoluted New Media
In the build up to Christmas tempers may well be frayed – but fear not, endocrinology may hold the key to a calm yuletide.
In the build up to Christmas tempers may well be frayed – but fear not, endocrinology may hold the key to a calm yuletide.
Researchers from the University of Zurich have been investigating the effects of the hormone Oxytocin on behaviours in couples’ relationships. Studies in recent years have shown that Oxytocin regulates social behaviour and the new results from the group in Zurich reveal that it reduces the stress hormone Cortisol in arguing couples.
47 couples aged between 20 and 50 were asked to argue in the laboratory about a typical topic that caused friction in their relationship. By video recording the couples and analysing their behaviour with the aid of coding system the team discovered that the couples taking Oxytocin showed more positive behaviour. Arguing couples who had taken Oxytocin were more constructive – they listened, confirmed and laughed more often. Couples who had been given a placebo tended to show more negative behaviour such as interrupting, criticising and degrading their partner. The researchers monitored the levels of the stress hormone Cortisol by repeatedly testing the salvia of the couples. The saliva tests confirmed the observed behaviours - Cortisol values of couples who received Oxytocin were lower after the conflict than those of the placebo group.
Beate Ditzen, lead psychologist explained, “Oxytocin might be a possible biological candidate to explain how close relationships – and particularly couple relationships – have a positive effect on our health.”
By Leila Sattary
