noahrevoy on Nostr: Oxytocin as a Buffer Against Harmful External Influence in Marriage We know that ...

Oxytocin as a Buffer Against Harmful External Influence in Marriage

We know that oxytocin increases in-group preference, the natural tendency to prioritize one’s own group over external actors. We also know that a married couple is the smallest cooperative human in-group, and that external social influences, friends, family, pop culture, can strongly affect marital satisfaction.

If oxytocin strengthens in-group favoritism, then lower oxytocin (or lower oxytocin responsiveness) may weaken the natural “couple-first” orientation that protects marriages from outside interference.

Individuals with lower oxytocin might be more open to negative social input or bad advice, even when the marriage has no serious internal problems.

Increasing affectionate behavior, which raises oxytocin, could strengthen the pair bond and reduce vulnerability to harmful external influences.

More touch, more affection, more positive attention, more sex, more shared eye contact improve marital bonding whether or not oxytocin is the main driver.