Oxytocin Is a Hormone Produced by the Posterior Pituitary Gland

question 45

Multiple Choice

Oxytocin is a hormone produced by the posterior pituitary gland that causes female uterine muscles to contract during childbirth and female mammary glands to eject milk during nursing. Oxytocin also occurs naturally in males and is involved in movement of sperm and production of testosterone. It has been given the common name of "the love hormone" because oxytocin is linked to human behaviors including sexual arousal and trust.
In 2012, The Atlantic (a popular news source) published a brief online news summary that explained that when scientists in Germany gave men who were in a monogamous relationship with a woman a nasal spray containing oxytocin, the men were less attracted to an attractive female stranger than men who were given a nasal spray with no oxytocin. While The Atlantic provided a link to the original scientific study, the summary drew conclusions and stated implications that included the following:
1. In men, oxytocin promotes monogamous relationships because it keeps them from communicating with women who are attractive to them.
2. If a man is unable to obtain a nasal spray with oxytocin, there are other means by which oxytocin release can be stimulated during a monogamous relationship: sexual intercourse, hand-holding, and touching.
-In addition to biological reasons, what other implications does the role of oxytocin have?

• A) Oxytocin can decrease the amount of time it takes for a female to give birth.
• B) Oxytocin can decrease the chance that women in monogamous relationships will be attracted to men other than their mate.
• C) Oxytocin can affect human social behaviors.
• D) Oxytocin can weaken the bond that men and women share in a relationship.

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