Paul Zak Talks to Hug the Monkey
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Paul J. Zak is director of the Center for Neuroeconomics Studies, Claremont Graduate University; professor of Neurology at Loma Linda University Medical Center; and a senior researcher at UCLA. He has a Ph.D. in economics from University of Pennsylvania and post-doctoral training in neuroimaging from Harvard.
He coined the term "neuroeconomics" to describe the study of how the brain and nervous system affect our behavior in economic exchanges, that is, business and commerce. In 2004, he discovered that oxytocin lets us determine who we can trust. He's using fMRI to understand how oxytocin forms the basis for modern civilizations and modern economies.
His work is exciting to me because it shows that our biological nature is designed to be trusting and reciprocal -- i.e. moral -- even when we do business.
Hi i have some questons you might be able to snswer for me.
Im doing a paper on oxytocin. If oxytocin makes people bond then what makes people split up. Why do men stay in a relationship for years then up and leave? is that a lack of the chemicals? Im so interested but i cant find any information. if you can help please write me back. thanks
Posted by: April | October 10, 2007 at 10:04 AM
This will be quite speculative, okay? There's no research on humans on this -- and other monogamous mammals do not get divorced. Although, it should be noted, monogamous mammals not infrequently have sex outside the pair bond -- as many as 45 percent of the males (I think that was), according to a study of prairie voles.
I think there might be several answers to this question:
1. Our culture privileges romantic love over committed love, so many of us think that when the thrill is gone, we've "fallen out of love," and should look for a new, thrilling partner. For more on this, see Get Over Romance,
http://www.hugthemonkey.com/2007/06/get_over_romanc.html
2. Especially for men, our culture promotes a very unrealistic image of what a sex relationship should be like. She's always hot, needs no foreplay, sex is very coitus-oriented, etc. Real-life married sex is seldom like this, so men are encouraged to feel they're missing out in their marriages.
3. The oxytocin response is learned after birth, in the first three years of life (more or less). Many of us, especially in today's disconnected culture, where moms have to go back to work quickly and have many responsibilities besides baby care, grow up with a weak oxytocin response. We just don't bond as deeply as we should, making it hard to stay married.
4. People are very complex, and our highly developed prefrontal cortexes can exert strong influence on neurochemistry, so we are the least instinctual animals on the planet. Who knows what goes on in people's heads.
I hope this is helpful -- but I suspect it's not so much. There really aren't answers to this.
Posted by: Susan Kuchinskas | October 10, 2007 at 10:20 AM
Oh, I have a #5: Regarding monogamy. As I said, most monogamous mammals have frequent extra-pair sex. Biologists define monogamy as a pair that cohabits, shares resources and parental duties in raising young. It's called "social monogamy," because it's a way of life.
Humans are the only monogamous mammal that expects sexual monogamy. That may be just too hard for some humans to do. Unfortunately, because of those highly developed brains, it's also too hard for most humans to accept that their mate may have sex outside the marriage. The vast majority of people do seem to be able to stick to the bargain. But it shouldn't be surprising that some can't -- and especially if partners stray after the kids are grown.
Posted by: Susan Kuchinskas | October 10, 2007 at 10:25 AM
That is interesting and helpful. Sorry to be a pain but i would like to ask some more questions. i want as much information on the study of oxytocin in humans that relate to everyday life. Im just not finding to much information through google and such. i was hoping that you have some links i can look at. and if you know of any books i can find on the subject. thank
April
Posted by: April | October 11, 2007 at 08:40 AM
Well, you can read my book when it comes out; Love Chemistry is all about oxytocin in everyday life. But that will be May 2008 at the earliest.
In the meantime, try Why We Love, by Helen Fisher, for an overview of romantic love.
Paul Zak's papers can be found here: http://www.neuroeconomicstudies.org/?page=published
Posted by: Susan Kuchinskas | October 11, 2007 at 09:27 AM