Monday, 26 September 2016

Sex Makes Men More Likely to Believe In God

Sex makes men more likely to believe in God

Oxytocin Released Boosts Feeling Of Religiousness



Hormones released while hav ing sex can increase spiritu ality and belief in God, scientists have claimed.

According to the research, release of oxytocin not only promotes social bonding and helps childbirth in women, but also stimulates increased feelings of religiousness.

A research team from US's Duke University carried out a study in which they boosted levels of oxytocin in middle-aged men and found increased self-reported spirituality on two separate measures. The effect remained significant even a week later. A control group who received a placebo did not report higher levels of spirituality . Those who received the hormone also reported more positive emotions during meditation.

Patty Van Cappallen, a social psychologist and the lead author of the study said, “Spirituality and meditation have each been linked to health and well-being. We were interested in understanding biological factors that may enhance those spiritual experiences,“ she said. “Oxytocin appears to be part of the way our bodies support spiritual beliefs.“

The results were published in the journal Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience. Oxytocin is produced in the hypothalamus, and previous research has indicated the hormone may play a role in promoting empathy , trust, social bonding and altruism.

The group who received oxytocin were more likely to report that spirituality was important in their lives and that life has meaning and purpose. This remained true after taking into account whether the participant belonged to an organised religion or not.

The participants who received the hormone also gave more positive responses to statements, including “all life is interconnected“ and “there is a higher plane of consciousness or spirituality that binds all people“. However, Van Cappellen warned the findings should not be over-generalised.“Oxytocin does seem to affect how we perceive the world and what we believe.“


(TOI)

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