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ANSWER TO REFLECTION QUESTIONS

Oxytocin is now available for public consumption, being marketed commercially. Do we have to limit the distribution of such chemicals? Why or why not? Why?

Oxytocin

Just like with any other consumable substance, oxytocin may be abused and so may cause unhealthy side effects if taken in an overdose. Because it is linked to reducing stress, an over-dosage of this substance may lead to slurred activity, or impairment in certain learning and memory functions. Why not? We should not limit the distribution of such chemicals because the oxytocin has the function of stress reduction. It has also found that the oxytocin level highly increases during the sexual activity. Having better sexual activity with a partner can lead to better, more stable, passionate relationships. Some might think that consumption of oxytocin might lead to the adultery, but having more sexual activity doesnt necessarily lead to this. It is the responsibility and the mindset of the person that result the adultery. Comment on the marketing of the hormone as the Love or Trust Hormone. We strongly agree with the idea that oxytocin is the Love or Trust Hormone. In the study done by Rebecca Turner, women that have stable relationships were more likely to have an increase in oxytocin levels when remembering a positive emotion/memory and were also less affected by recalled negative emotions. Lending ones body to someone is a difficult task, but if more oxytocin is produced, a person would be able to lend their body to someone else with more Trust, since it is considered as the trust hormone. Also, oxytocin levels increase when partners are engaged in sexual activity, so the name Love hormone would be suitable as well. By: Jewel Ocampo, Daney Kang, Tom Lee, Sang Baek Han
Works Cited 1. "About Oxytocin | Psych Central." Psych Central - Trusted Mental Health, Depression, Bipolar, ADHD and Psychology Information. 2008. Web. 12 Nov. 2011. <http://psychcentral.com/lib/2008/about-oxytocin/all/1/>. Bowen, R. "Oxytocin." Arbl.cvmbs.colostate.edu. 12 July 2010. Web. <http://www.vivo.colostate.edu/hbooks/pathphys/endocrine/hypopit/oxytocin.htm 12 Nov. l>.

What is it? It is not only a hormone that circulates in the bloodstream, but also a neurotransmitter that travels along nerve cells in the brain and elsewhere. It plays a role in inducing contraction and lactations, and is released with touches and hugs. Oxytocin has been found to be beneficial for reducing anxiety and stress, producing feelings of wellbeing, empathy, bonding, and sexual arousal. It is associated with bonding between a mother and her child. It is however, released in both genders. [1, 2, 4] IT IS ALSO CALLED THE LOVE OR TRUST HORMONE! Love intense feeling of deep affection; Trust strong belief in someone or something! Males[1, 2] Males synthesize oxytocin in the same regions of the hypothalamus as in females, and also within the testes and perhaps other reproductive tissues. Current evidence suggests that oxytocin is involved in facilitating sperm transport within the male reproductive system. It may also have effects on some aspects of male sexual behavior. Females[1, 2] 1. Stimulation of milk ejection (milk letdown) - Oxytocin stimulates contraction of myoepithelial cells in breasts, causing milk to be ejected. 2. Stimulation of uterine smooth muscle contraction at birth - Oxytocin is released during labor, and it enhances contraction of uterine smooth muscle to facilitate parturition or birth. 3. Establishment of maternal behavior - During parturition (after labor), there is an increase in concentration of oxytocin in cerebrospinal fluid, and oxytocin acting within the brain plays a major role in establishing maternal behavior. The most important stimulus for release of oxytocin is initiated by physical stimulation.

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2011.

"Oxytocin Reduces Stress Hormones In Arguing Couples." Science 2.0 - The World's Best Scientists, the Internet's Smartest Readers. 15 Dec. 2008. Web. 16 Nov. 2011. <http://www.science20.com/news_releases/oxytocin_reduces_stress_hormones_a rguing_couples>. Prior, Maria. "Oxytocin - Biological Level of Analysis." Ibpsychologynotes. 2011. Web. 12 Nov. 2011. <http://ibpsychologynotes.wordpress.com/year-12-grade-112/class-notes/biological-level-of-analysis/>.

What factors affect or regulate the effects of oxytocin? [1] Acute stress; repression by (catecholamines); sex steroids hormones released from the adrenal gland

Turner, Rebecca. "Oxytocin: The Hormone of Love." Oxytocin.org : the Biology of True Love. University of California San Francisco, 14 July 1999. Web. 12 Nov. 2011. <http://www.oxytocin.org/oxytoc/>.

RELATED STUDY
Part 1 Aim: Researchers at University of California San Francisco, headed by Dr. Rebecca Turner, tested ! the idea of whether oxytocin is released in response to intense emotional states in addition to physical cues. Method: Laboratory Experiment Procedure: The subjects of this study were twenty-six non-lactating woman volunteers between the ages 23 to 35. Firstly, they were asked to remember a past relationship event that caused them to feel a positive emotion, such as love or infatuation. Secondly, they were asked to remember a past relationship event that caused them to feel a negative emotion, such as loss or abandonment. Lastly, because massage was suggested to increase the level of oxytocin, as shown by a previous experiment with rats, the twenty-six women were given 15 minutes of Swedish massage. Blood samples were taken before, during, and after all the procedures, in order to record any changes in oxytocin levels. Result: The results indicate that recollection of a negative emotion caused oxytocin levels to fall slightly; recollection of a positive emotion, on average, had no effect; and the Swedish massage caused oxytocin levels to rise slightly. However, what surprised the researchers was how differently each woman responded since some participants showed substantial increases and decreases in oxytocin levels while others were largely unaffected. Thus, a further study ensued. Part 2 Aim: The researchers decided to look at the interpersonal characteristics of individual women to see if there was a correlation with changes in their oxytocin levels. Method: Questionnaire Procedure: Different questionnaires, including the Inventory of Interpersonal Problems and the Adult Attachment Scale, were used to assess the previous experiences with personal and close relationships of each of the women in Part 1 of the study. Results: Women whose oxytocin levels rose in response to massage and remembering a positive relationship reported having little difficulty setting appropriate boundaries, being alone, and trying too hard to please others. Women whose oxytocin levels fell in response to remembering a negative emotional relationship reported greater problems with experiencing anxiety in close relationships. This suggests that having this hormone available during positive experiences, and not being depleted of it during negative experiences, is associated with well-being in relationships. In addition, women who were currently involved in a committed relationship experienced greater oxytocin increases in response to positive emotions than single women; a close, regular relationship may influence the responsiveness of oxytocin. (Excerpts from Oxytocin: The Hormone of Love by Rebecca Turner, et al.)

Evaluation of the Study

Gender was used as a controlled variable in the study and so the data and experiment is limited to women, as oxytocin levels were only being tested on the said gender. In Part 1 of the study, a laboratory experiment was conducted and in Part 2, a questionnaire was given out to the same set of women tested initially. The strengths of a lab experiment include that manipulation of the independent variable indicates cause and effect; there is increased control and accurate measurement of variables, and so objectivity; and laboratory standardization means greater ability to replicate the study. The weaknesses include that total control over all variables is not possible; artificial laboratory conditions may produce unnatural behavior that lacks ecological validity does not generalize to real life; results are more likely to be biased by sampling, demand characteristics, experimenter expectancy; and may raise ethical problems of deception. The strengths of a questionnaire include collecting large amounts of standardized data relatively quickly and conveniently and that it is highly replicable and easy to score. The weaknesses include lack of flexibility; and its basis on self-report data that could be biased by motivation levels, socially desirable answers, acquiescence, and response set. The initial part of the study, which dealt with lab experiments, has a high internal validity as the independent variables of recalling an emotion/memory, and undertaking a massage affects the dependent variable of oxytocin levels. The latter part of the study, which dealt with questionnaires, also has a high internal validity since the independent variables of having a stable or unstable relationship and varying levels of security determines the presence and levels of oxytocin. Both the lab experiment and the questionnaire have a high external validity as it is assumed to apply to target non-lactating women of several cultures from ages 23 to 35. The laboratory experiment has a low ecological validity because it is set under artificial conditions and is limited to women; the questionnaire also has a low ecological validity because again, the study is focused towards the responses of women. Both approaches may also be generalizable to other cultures as the study is assumed to encompass women of different backgrounds. This experiment was acceptable enough in modern ethical committees because it wasn't harmful to the participants except the fact that they were drawn blood from their body. However, they were informed about it beforehand. Therefore, this cannot be a reason for unethical issue. Also, there was no false information given to the participants. Unfortunately, this experiment was biased towards oxytocin levels in females. Overall, the experiment was acceptable to modern ethical committees. All experiments and questionnaires done in this study followed modern ethical standards and so there is no need for justification because there was no infringement of these said standards. In terms of studies done by other cultures, there was a study done by Beate Ditzen from the Psychological Institute of the UZH, which also experimented with the relationship between couples and oxytocin. This study had different method than the study of Rebecca Turner, but had same result, wherein it was established that oxytocin is a hormone that gives positive behavior, or is released when people have a good mood. Overall, the two studies have similar conclusions which state that an abundance in oxytocin is helpful in establishing more stable and healthier relationships.