General Question
Hormones and neurotransmitters at work - Why are psychologists more interested in sexual polygamy than in the sexual monogamy?
From Wikipedia: The psychology of sexual monogamy deals with the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors of human beings in sexually monogamous relationships. Psychological studies of sexual monogamy are sparse. Psychologists tend to be more interested in sexual non-monogamy, especially the causes and consequences of sexual infidelity. Psychological studies of social monogamy have relied heavily on observations of married couples. These studies have identified several important topics: relationship satisfaction, relationship duration, and attachment.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychology_of_Monogamy
Should we take a closer look how certain hormones and neurotransmitters work? Are they the reason for individuals to pursue monogamous or polygamous relationships? Can we learn from prairie voles and create ‘pills’ to reduce the urge of men to cheat on their wives?
From Wikipedia (same article): Studies of pair bonding in animals have allowed scientists to identify several chemicals in the brain related to social monogamy. Three chemicals which have received a lot of attention are oxytocin, vasopressin, and dopamine. These chemicals have been strongly linked to socially monogamous pair bonding in prairie voles. Some species of prairie voles form socially monogamous pair bonds following sexual behavior. The pair bonds can be interrupted by injecting chemicals that interfere with oxytocin and vasopressin.
Although human brains contain oxytocin, vasopressin, and dopamine, human brains differ in many respects from animal brains. These differences may include changes in how oxytocin, vasopressin, and dopamine work. Neursocientists simply don’t understand the differences between human brains and animal brains well enough to say these chemicals play a role in human pair bonding. Yet, initial studies look promising. Oxytocin reduces stress in human beings. Oxytocin may facilitate attachment by reducing stress in response to the support and comfort offered by relationship partners. Oxytocin also increases trust in human beings. Oxytocin may facilitate attachment by increasing trust between relationship partners. Brain scans have shown that areas of the human brain containing oxytocin, vasopressin, and dopamine are activated by looking at pictures of attachment figures but not by looking at pictures of other people.
What is your opinion about monogamy and polygamy? Do you favor more research?
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