Oxytocin is a hormone that is often referred to as the “love hormone” due to its association with social bonding, trust, and emotional attachment. It is produced by the hypothalamus and released by the pituitary gland.

Recent studies, however, have shown that oxytocin may not be as innocent as we once thought. Researchers have found that oxytocin can actually make us less honest.

The Study

The study, conducted by researchers at the University of Amsterdam, involved 60 participants who were asked to play a game of dice which involved money rewards. Each participant rolled a die and was told to report the number they got.

They were then told they would receive money based on the number they reported, with higher amounts given for higher numbers. Unknown to the participants, the die was loaded to always land on the number 6.

The Findings

The researchers found that participants who were given a dose of oxytocin were more likely to cheat by reporting higher numbers than they actually rolled.

On average, those who received oxytocin reported a number higher than 6 more often than those who had received a placebo. Additionally, the participants who received oxytocin reported higher payouts than those who received a placebo.

The Explanation

These findings suggest that oxytocin may be affecting our moral judgement and decision-making processes.

It is thought that oxytocin enhances social bonding and trust, but it may also make us more willing to bend the truth in order to maintain these social bonds. In other words, oxytocin may be encouraging us to prioritize social connections over honesty.

The Implications

These findings have important implications for various areas of society, including business, healthcare, and the legal system.

For example, in the business world, it is important to have executive officers who are honest and transparent in their dealings. If oxytocin is making us less honest, then this could potentially lead to more cases of fraud and corruption.

In healthcare, it is important for doctors and medical professionals to be honest with their patients about their diagnoses and treatments.

If oxytocin is making us less honest, then this could lead to misdiagnoses and mistreatments, which could have serious consequences for patients.

In the legal system, it is crucial that witnesses and jurors are honest in their testimony and verdicts. If oxytocin is making us less honest, then this could lead to miscarriages of justice.

The Conclusion

Oxytocin is a fascinating hormone that plays an important role in social bonding and trust. However, recent studies have shown that it may be influencing our moral judgement and decision-making processes by making us less honest.

It is important to further investigate the effects of oxytocin on human behaviour and to develop strategies to counteract these effects.