Paging Dr. Love

The legendary rockers of the American band KISS may not have been so far off when they belted out, “Baby, I know what your problem is...the first step of the cure is a kiss!” in their hit single, “Calling Dr. Love.” They couldn’t have known it at the time, but current relationship scientists may now agree with Gene Simmons’ medical claims. There might be a little something special to that kiss.

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Oxytocin: The Hormone that Binds

image source: dioceseofjoliet.orgIn a recent study, oxytocin levels in single individuals and romantic couples were measured, and the couples were videotaped while interacting with each other. Individuals in romantic relationships were found to have higher levels of oxytocin than the romantically-unattached. Further, couples with the highest oxytocin levels were more likely to experience positive emotions when interacting with their partners. This research provides additional evidence of the critical role of oxytocin in promoting bonding between individuals.

Schneiderman, I., Zagoory-Sharon, O., Leckman, J. F., & Feldman, R. (in press) Oxytocin during the initial stages of romantic attachment: Relations to couples’ interactive reciprocity. Psychoneuroendocrinology. doi:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2011.12.021

When Stress Hits, Call Your Mother. Don’t Text, Talk to Her. Really.

You’ve had a crappy day. Maybe your boss yelled at you, you forgot to pay the mortgage, or you lost your keys. When life stresses you out, sometimes you need your momma. After all, how many times have you heard your mom say how nice it is to hear your voice? But recent research from the University of Wisconsin-Madison suggests that it may be you that benefits from hearing your mother’s voice.

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Hard-Wired for Care? A Genetic Basis for Providing Care to a Partner in Need

It’s not too profound to suggest that people are biological creatures—without genes, bodies, and brains, no part of our social lives would be possible. But how our biology relates to our minds and behavior has been a black box for centuries. Scientists simply didn’t have the tools or level of biological knowledge necessary to connect what happens in our bodies to how we experience the world. In the last 30 years, however, advances in genetics, physiological recording, and brain imaging have made it possible to begin to unpack some of the links between biology and psychology.

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Ask Dr. Loving: Dealing with "Stupid-Boy-Syndrome"

"A Little Frustrated" asked: "Stupid-Boy-Syndrome" is a term my friend uses to describe a tendency of some guys to be oblivious to feelings and situations that the woman feels to be obvious. Now, my boyfriend seems to be especially prone to this syndrome, appearing absent minded and downright clumsy when it comes to discussing my feelings. If I tell him his approach isn't working, he says he's just not good at remembering details. What's the trick to being in a relationship with a man if he cares about you, but he isn't attentive unless you prod him to be and he has a memory like a sieve?

Dear L. F.;

There’s nothing wrong with prodding.

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Oxytocin Takes the Ass out of Masculinity

We’ve written before about the types of faces women find attractive (see here and here). In addition to those studies, one of the more well-known findings in the facial attractiveness literature is that women show a preference for more masculine faces when they are ovulating, but actually tend to prefer less masculine, or more feminized, faces when they are not likely to conceive a child. Why the shift in preference?

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