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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