Oxytocin amplifies negative childhood memories for anxiously attached adults
Oxytocin is often called the "love hormone," but new research shows it can actually amplify negative childhood memories for people who experience relationship anxiety. The hormone appears to heighten our sensitivity to social cues, rather than simply boosting affection.
A recent study published in the journal Emotion reveals that oxytocin, often dubbed the "love hormone," can intensify negative memories tied to childhood experiences for individuals with anxious attachment styles. Researchers at McGill University, led by Melissa Shemirani and Jennifer A. Bartz, conducted a study involving 77 male and female participants.
The participants were given either oxytocin or a placebo spray, with neither the participants nor the researchers knowing which treatment they received. After the hormone had time to act, the participants were presented with attachment-related words and asked to recall specific childhood memories involving their mothers. The researchers then selected one positive and one negative memory and asked the participants to discuss them.
The results showed that oxytocin amplified negative emotions for those with high attachment anxiety, causing them to describe their mothers with more negative and less positive emotions compared to when they received the placebo. This finding suggests that the hormone intensified the participants' underlying insecurities about relationships.
Another analysis revealed that oxytocin reduced the negative emotional tone of memories for participants with low attachment anxiety, while it had no effect on avoidant individuals who typically suppress their desire for closeness. The study highlights the nuanced role of oxytocin in shaping emotional responses and emphasizes the importance of considering individual differences in attachment styles.
Written by urgent.news from PsyPost's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
