Oxytocin and the social brain: between love and hate

Abstract

Oxytocin is a peptide hormone that appears to mediate social behavior in animals and humans. Various studies have shown that oxytocin promotes love, mother-infant bonding, partner bonding and maternal care in several mammalian species. Although human social behavior depends less on hormones like oxytocin, the hormone has been found to stimulate prosocial behavior, like trust and empathy, in humans. The hormone is traditionally viewed as a “love drug” or “cuddling hormone”. Recent studies suggest, however, that oxytocin is also involved in intergroup conflicts and violence. Moreover, the hormone has been found to promote defense-motivated aggression, like maternal aggression. These findings make the view of oxytocin as a “love hormone” questionable. This thesis provides an overview of the literature concerning the effect of oxytocin on social behavior in animals and humans. Thereby, it focuses on the key question whether oxytocin can or cannot be seen as a “love hormone” and how oxytocin is capable of promoting love, bonding and aggression at the same time.