DISQUS

Susan Kuchinksas · 2 years ago

I agree that you can become addicted to the high of falling in love. That dopamine rush is designed to do just that: teach us to seek out experiences that benefit the organism and the species.

However, I believe that the release of oxytocin during sex and orgasm is designed to do the opposite. In the human brain, the reward center has receptors for both oxytocin and dopamine. Scientists think that this combo, present in the 3 to 5 percent of monogamous mammal species, is what creates (social)monogamy, aka pair bonding or marriage.

Normally, the association between dopamine and oxytocin tends to reinforce the reward of sex with the partner.

But in humans, the placement,number and responsiveness of oxytocin receptors is determined by nurturing experiences in the first one to three years of life. So, many humans likely don't develop this oxytocin response to sex. In my opinion, these are the people who become addicted to the rush -- but not to their partners long-term.

Cerebrl · 2 years ago

Wow, that was insightful. I believe while we are growing up during our single digit ages, we "design" our body for the rest of our life. If your environment is saturated in negativity and a lack of human connection, then your "chemo-physiology" will develop a higher proportion of of the chemicals responsible for dealing with this environment.

Therefor, in your later years, you will seek out this lack of real connection and non-monogamous behavior trying to replicate the feeling/rewards of your childhood. Even though this may be unconscious behavior, it is still very powerful. Unless the person is really conscious of this tendency, they will constantly be a victim to there chemically motivated behavior.

Thank you for your very intellectual response, I hope to hear from you in the future.

Susan Kuchinksas · 2 years ago

Your belief is being proven true by neuroscience, and that's a great way to describe the process. One thing important to note is that most of this design process happens very early, in the first three years of life -- before our brains are capable of forming conscious memories.

Cerebrl · 2 years ago

I am glad something is finally being said about the importance on this issue. I know every time I start to talk to someone about their emotional problems or addictions, I always start with, "What happened to you during your single digit years?"

Almost every time I drag out something from decades ago that is very informative, it always clues me into what is "controlling them" in the present. Works every time.