Brainfade Posted December 27, 2011 Posted December 27, 2011 Oxytocin is a hormone that has been associated with higher-order emotions like empathy, trust, comfort, and now ... morality. Released by the pituitary gland close to the brain, it was first discovered as the factor responsible for late-pregnancy, early-childbirth physiologies - e.g., uterine contractions and milk production. But, decades-long research has unearthed several psychological roles (not surprising considering the organ of psychology - the brain - is after all just another entity that makes/responds to bodily chemical signals). While not surprising, it is certainly fascinating - CNN today had a TED talk link by Paul Zak - the experiments that his group and others have done to unravel oxytocin's role in "morality" is the kind of stuff that gives me chill-bumps - on par with Tendulkar's straight drives and Dhoni's cowlashes to win the World Cup! The chemistry of morality: http://www.cnn.com/2011/12/27/opinion/zak-moral-molecule/index.html?hpt=hp_t2
Lurker Posted December 27, 2011 Posted December 27, 2011 Oxytocin is a hormone that has been associated with higher-order emotions like empathy' date=' trust, comfort, and now ... morality. Released by the pituitary gland close to the brain, it was first discovered as the factor responsible for late-pregnancy, early-childbirth physiologies - e.g., uterine contractions and milk production. But, decades-long research has unearthed several psychological roles (not surprising considering the organ of psychology - the brain - is after all just another entity that makes/responds to bodily chemical signals). While not surprising, it is certainly fascinating - [b']CNN today had a TED talk link by Paul Zak - the experiments that his group and others have done to unravel oxytocin's role in "morality" is the kind of stuff that gives me chill-bumps - on par with Tendulkar's straight drives and Dhoni's cowlashes to win the World Cup! The chemistry of morality: To me such discoveries/inventions might turn me off so much I may become one of the beleivers of Intelligent Design.:(( This propensity of science enthusiasts to try to explain everything cuts both ways. It enlightens and also keeps us making bad decisions. So now we have a molecule that suggests empathy, what are we gonna in a world that is becoming less empathetic??? Inject people with these molecules?? :winky::winky: I had a similar argument with a fellow woman colleague who suggested women these days should not have kids because one of Harvard studies have suggested how stressful kids can be, how much money was spent on raising kids, its implications on woman's career. I sat gobsmacked looking at this lady colleague who I have known for years, and slowly see her metamorph from a living breathing woman into an Analyst...full time. After she was done giving all the reasons why women shouldnt have kids, she wanted my opinion and I basically told her there is nothing more beautiful/romantic in this world than when a woman tells a man she wants to have his babies. It hit home..if only for a second when she became the same woman again...and was then back to bashing me for thinking like a man lol..and get back to Harvard review. Sorry just had to rant on that a bit CA. By the by Gingrich got knocked of VA primary..you happy? :--D xxx
Brainfade Posted December 27, 2011 Author Posted December 27, 2011 To me such discoveries/inventions might turn me off so much I may become one of the beleivers of Intelligent Design.:(( This propensity of science enthusiasts to try to explain everything cuts both ways. It enlightens and also keeps us making bad decisions. So now we have a molecule that suggests empathy, what are we gonna in a world that is becoming less empathetic??? Inject people with these molecules?? :winky::winky: I had a similar argument with a fellow woman colleague who suggested women these days should not have kids because one of Harvard studies have suggested how stressful kids can be, how much money was spent on raising kids, its implications on woman's career. I sat gobsmacked looking at this lady colleague who I have known for years, and slowly see her metamorph from a living breathing woman into an Analyst...full time. After she was done giving all the reasons why women shouldnt have kids, she wanted my opinion and I basically told her there is nothing more beautiful/romantic in this world than when a woman tells a man she wants to have his babies. It hit home..if only for a second when she became the same woman again...and was then back to bashing me for thinking like a man lol..and get back to Harvard review. Sorry just had to rant on that a bit CA. By the by Gingrich got knocked of VA primary..you happy? :--D xxx What she's talking about is socio-economic analysis - not real science. Tell her that when she has kids, her oxytocin levels will go up, and she'll be happy and ... moral :) As for the grinch ... yep, am glad he's the next to be chopped.
Lurker Posted December 27, 2011 Posted December 27, 2011 What she's talking about is socio-economic analysis - not real science. Tell her that when she has kids, her oxytocin levels will go up, and she'll be happy and ... moral :) lol..I see what you did there with word play. :hatsoff:
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