Oxytocin against xenophobia

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The hormone Oxytocin us humans so much influence, that we are refugees, compared to more open-minded? Medication is racism maybe treatable? A new study that’s the impression.

What please do is a cuddle hormone with refugees? Oxytocin is a hormone produced in the brain and known to social ties is to strengthen. An international team of researchers from Germany and the United States in a study concluded that may increase the willingness to donate money for refugees by taking the body’s own hormone, Oxytocin, up to the Double.

Half of the test persons, was administered via a nasal spray of the so-called cuddle hormone, Oxytocin. The result: Who’s needy, Relief and refugees, compared to already positive is set, was willing to donate twice as much money than the test group that received a Placebo. In the case of foreign skeptics, the hormone had no influence.

No matter what you think of this study – Oxytocin is a hormone that affects our consciousness and on our relationships with other people affects. That sounds almost as if us taxes Oxytocin. But it is not that simple. Here are a few facts, what is this mysterious hormone and what it can do.

The love between mother and child is something very special – Cuddling, Oxytocin is formed

1. Oxytocin comes from the brain

Oxytocin is a hormone produced in the brain and distributed. Actually, it is formed in the Hypothalamus. He is a part of the midbrain and is an important control organ for the autonomic nervous system and the endocrine system. For example, he draws our nutrition or reproduction.

 

2. Oxytocin strengthens social bonds

From the ancient Greek translates as Oxytocin means “quick birth” because it triggers the contractions at birth and is important for the bond of mother and child. Oxytocin is the hormone that makes us human, and feelings such as trust and love.

 

3. Oxytocin promotes trust

A study by the psychologist Beate Ditzen from the Institute for Medical psychology in Heidelberg shows that couples with Oxytocin-can handle impact better with conflict issues and more open to show their feelings. Oxytocin seems to be a real mediator. A study by the Freiburg psychologist Markus Heinrich and the economist Ernst Fehr for the donations shows that Oxytocin increases trust and generosity of the people.

 

4. Oxytocin alleviates Fears and phobias

French neuro-scientist set up a study in which you want autistic people Oxytocin via nasal spray administered. By the action of the hormone on the social skills of the autistic children improved significantly. You are interested in, for example, is more for pictures of faces and grew in confidence compared to other players in a virtual ball game. The hormone can also affect anxiety.

A glimmer of hope for parents with autistic children – can cause the hormone miracle? In some years, the research will be able to say more on this.

5. Oxytocin strengthens the group feeling

In evolutionary biology, it is one of the important tasks of the hormone, to protect the own group or family to the outside and to defend if necessary. The psychologist Carsten De Dreu from Amsterdam, made an attempt to test Oxytocin in a larger context. It was interested in how people with different interests negotiate with each other, all of which are under the influence of Oxytocin. Members of the team discussed peacefully with each other but the opposing group, they refused their cooperation.

He pushed the Experiment even further, he presented Dutch subjects with the task, their own country people and foreign people groups features to it. The test groups were attributed with people of their nationality very positive properties, and put other groups down. Oxytocin has also quite a ‘dark side’.

 


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