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The Moral Molecule: The Source of Love and Prosperity
A Revolution in the Science of Good and Evil
Why do some people give freely while others are cold hearted?
Why do some people cheat and steal while others you can trust with your life?
Why are some husbands more faithful than others and why do women tend to be more generous than men?
Could they key to moral behaviour lie with a single molecule?
From the bucolic English countryside to the highlands of Papua New Guinea, from labs in Switzerland to his campus in Southern California, Dr. Paul Zak recounts his extraordinary stories and sets out, for the first time, his revolutionary theory of moral behavior. Accessible and electrifying, The Moral Molecule reveals nothing less than the origins of our most human qualities empathy, happiness, and the kindness of strangers.
Why do some people give freely while others are cold hearted?
Why do some people cheat and steal while others you can trust with your life?
Why are some husbands more faithful than others and why do women tend to be more generous than men?
Could they key to moral behaviour lie with a single molecule?
From the bucolic English countryside to the highlands of Papua New Guinea, from labs in Switzerland to his campus in Southern California, Dr. Paul Zak recounts his extraordinary stories and sets out, for the first time, his revolutionary theory of moral behavior. Accessible and electrifying, The Moral Molecule reveals nothing less than the origins of our most human qualities empathy, happiness, and the kindness of strangers.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published May 1, 2012
117 people are currently reading
1647 people want to read
About the author
Paul J. Zak
14 books46 followersDr. Paul J. Zak is Distinguished University Professor at Claremont Graduate University and is in the top 0.3% of most cited scientists. Paul’s two decades of research extending the boundaries of behavioral neuroscience have taken him from the Pentagon to Fortune 50 boardrooms to the rainforest of Papua New Guinea. In 2017 he founded Immersion Neuroscience, a software platform that allows anyone to measure what the brain loves in real-time that is used to improve outcomes in entertainment, education, advertising, and emotional health. He is a regular TED speaker and appears in the media regularly. https://pauljzak.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 99 reviews
August 19, 2012
You wait years for a book on empathy and two come out within days. But the contrast with Simon Baron-Cohen's book could not be greater. The Moral Molecule is popular science as rumbustious personal story telling - it is a highly enjoyable exploration of Paul Zak's journey from economist to neurobiologist and of his almost obsessive interest in the molecule oxytocin and its influence on trust and empathy - in effect on human goodness.
Although oxytocin is the star, this is a tale of two molecules, with testosterone in the black hat to oxytocin's white. Testosterone it seems doesn't just counter oxytocin's beneficial effects, it encourages us towards behaviour that could be considered evil - though to be fair to Zak things are nowhere near so black and white in reality: we need both for different reasons. But Zak makes a wonderful fist of selling the benefits of the trust and empathy that arise from an oxytocin high (even though I'm not sure I'm sold on Zak's enthusiasm for hugs).
The final part of the book is a bit of a let down. Up to then it has been a romp of a story with lots of experiments and their outcomes. For the final section it settles down to Zak's analysis of the likes of religion and business with an 'oxytocin rules' hat on. Still interesting, but much less engaging.
I really thought for the first few pages this would be one of those wince-making books where a scientist features himself as star, but actually it's one of the best popular science books I've read this year. Recommended.
Review originally published on www.popularscience.co.uk and reproduced with permission
Although oxytocin is the star, this is a tale of two molecules, with testosterone in the black hat to oxytocin's white. Testosterone it seems doesn't just counter oxytocin's beneficial effects, it encourages us towards behaviour that could be considered evil - though to be fair to Zak things are nowhere near so black and white in reality: we need both for different reasons. But Zak makes a wonderful fist of selling the benefits of the trust and empathy that arise from an oxytocin high (even though I'm not sure I'm sold on Zak's enthusiasm for hugs).
The final part of the book is a bit of a let down. Up to then it has been a romp of a story with lots of experiments and their outcomes. For the final section it settles down to Zak's analysis of the likes of religion and business with an 'oxytocin rules' hat on. Still interesting, but much less engaging.
I really thought for the first few pages this would be one of those wince-making books where a scientist features himself as star, but actually it's one of the best popular science books I've read this year. Recommended.
Review originally published on www.popularscience.co.uk and reproduced with permission
April 8, 2013
This was one of the worst psychology books I've ever read (though I have not read many). I had a hard time taking Zak seriously. He writes in an almost too casual way, and his experiments seem faulty. Instead of doing most of his research in contained environments with multiple subjects, he does most of it on himself at random times. It seems as though he already carries a lot of experimenter’s bias because he writes as though he is trying to prove current stereotypes about the sexes rather than approach the topic with a clean slate. Also, it bothers me a bit that he does not seem to understand the difference between sex and gender, and writes with a very heteronormative view as a result (gender is not “male and female” – those are terms that signify biological sex). Furthermore, he does not directly cite the sources of some of the statistics he presents, such as his claim that young men have twice as much testosterone as older men (pp.78). I realize that this book falls into the “pop science” category, and is aimed more toward the general public, but that does not excuse him from properly citing his statistics. However, I did enjoy reading about the studies he presents from other researchers, and found them very interesting.
February 8, 2013
It feels like it's been forever since I posted a book review... I have been so busy with other things and when I do get a break my focus has been on stuff besides reading. :(
Anyway, this book was nothing spectacular. I learned something, which is why it got the stars it did. Apparently this guy writes for Psychology Today, which is a publication that I have no great respect for. If I'd known that when I picked it up at the library, I probably wouldn't have bothered. Alas it sounded interesting.
Was it? Well, yes and no. I feel like this subject could have been totally awesome. The writing style was accessible, but seemed to lack depth. Some of the conclusions he came to didn't seem all that well supported to me (it will come as no surprise to anyone familiar with my views that several of these conclusions focused on sex & gender)... I would imagine (hope) his actual research is a little more, er, scientific?
I do have to register my disappointment & anger with yet another "privileged white male scientist goes to Papua New Guinea; complains about yams, mud, and body odor" story that surfaced in this book. This one even included jokes about cannibalism. Mr. Zak: kindly plz don't... It ended with "so people in Papua New Guinea also have the same biologically wired hormone responses that we Westerners do!!" Even though he'd already noted that all mammals have oxytocin... What next? Do Papua New Guineans also have red blood and four chambered hearts? Might they even have...emotions?!!? Qu'est-ce que c'est?!?! I knocked off a star for that shit.
Anyway, this book was nothing spectacular. I learned something, which is why it got the stars it did. Apparently this guy writes for Psychology Today, which is a publication that I have no great respect for. If I'd known that when I picked it up at the library, I probably wouldn't have bothered. Alas it sounded interesting.
Was it? Well, yes and no. I feel like this subject could have been totally awesome. The writing style was accessible, but seemed to lack depth. Some of the conclusions he came to didn't seem all that well supported to me (it will come as no surprise to anyone familiar with my views that several of these conclusions focused on sex & gender)... I would imagine (hope) his actual research is a little more, er, scientific?
I do have to register my disappointment & anger with yet another "privileged white male scientist goes to Papua New Guinea; complains about yams, mud, and body odor" story that surfaced in this book. This one even included jokes about cannibalism. Mr. Zak: kindly plz don't... It ended with "so people in Papua New Guinea also have the same biologically wired hormone responses that we Westerners do!!" Even though he'd already noted that all mammals have oxytocin... What next? Do Papua New Guineans also have red blood and four chambered hearts? Might they even have...emotions?!!? Qu'est-ce que c'est?!?! I knocked off a star for that shit.
July 24, 2013
The power of hugs!
Well, that’s the short version, anyway. In fact, I got to meet Paul Zak at a panel, and the first thing he did was give me a hug. So, the man definitely walks his talk.
This is another entry in the recently hot pop-neuroscience genre of nonfiction. Despite the backlash to neuroscience and the backlash to the backlash, etc., I’ve always enjoyed these books for what they offer: revelations of sometimes rigorous, sometimes sloppy, and always fascinating work on how the brain actually works, and various levels of speculation on what that might mean for how we understand human behavior. This particular book has a narrow focus: oxytocin, the hormone responsible for parental bonding and post-coital glow.
Zak aggressively pursues the thesis that oxytocin is responsible not only for feelings of well-being in individuals, but in entire societies. He cites variations on a single exercise/study that he has conducted in different environments to show how profoundly oxytocin affects levels of generosity and trust. He then debunks the notion of oxytocin as a “miracle drug” (citing a particularly egregious example of an infomercial that deigned to use his research as marketing material), and shows how easily oxytocin levels can be manipulated (through a hug, for example, or through the simple act of being trusted). He then spins this research off into a potentially wider arena by linking it to his original field: economics. The book ends on some pretty high-minded notions of oxytocin’s potential role in religion, geopolitics, and humanity in general.
I tend to approach neuroscience books with an open mind and an accepting attitude, but this one still set off my internal skeptic alarm. My biggest issues were with the repetition of a single experiment in nearly all of the presented research, and the somewhat evangelical tone of how fundamentally important the results were (“yes, my friends, all of human morality can be distilled into this single miracle chemical!”). Still, Zak offers a lot of food for thought, especially on how oxytocin operates in the presence of interfering factors such as testosterone and trauma. The book is relatively bite-sized, so even in the presence of a questionable conclusion or two it’s a quick and engaging read. Best of all, Zak has a casual writing style that reads well for the layperson (though I really wish he would stop incorrectly using the idiom “begged the question”).
All told, an interesting look at what oxytocin is, and some interesting ideas on what understanding and harnessing it could mean.
Well, that’s the short version, anyway. In fact, I got to meet Paul Zak at a panel, and the first thing he did was give me a hug. So, the man definitely walks his talk.
This is another entry in the recently hot pop-neuroscience genre of nonfiction. Despite the backlash to neuroscience and the backlash to the backlash, etc., I’ve always enjoyed these books for what they offer: revelations of sometimes rigorous, sometimes sloppy, and always fascinating work on how the brain actually works, and various levels of speculation on what that might mean for how we understand human behavior. This particular book has a narrow focus: oxytocin, the hormone responsible for parental bonding and post-coital glow.
Zak aggressively pursues the thesis that oxytocin is responsible not only for feelings of well-being in individuals, but in entire societies. He cites variations on a single exercise/study that he has conducted in different environments to show how profoundly oxytocin affects levels of generosity and trust. He then debunks the notion of oxytocin as a “miracle drug” (citing a particularly egregious example of an infomercial that deigned to use his research as marketing material), and shows how easily oxytocin levels can be manipulated (through a hug, for example, or through the simple act of being trusted). He then spins this research off into a potentially wider arena by linking it to his original field: economics. The book ends on some pretty high-minded notions of oxytocin’s potential role in religion, geopolitics, and humanity in general.
I tend to approach neuroscience books with an open mind and an accepting attitude, but this one still set off my internal skeptic alarm. My biggest issues were with the repetition of a single experiment in nearly all of the presented research, and the somewhat evangelical tone of how fundamentally important the results were (“yes, my friends, all of human morality can be distilled into this single miracle chemical!”). Still, Zak offers a lot of food for thought, especially on how oxytocin operates in the presence of interfering factors such as testosterone and trauma. The book is relatively bite-sized, so even in the presence of a questionable conclusion or two it’s a quick and engaging read. Best of all, Zak has a casual writing style that reads well for the layperson (though I really wish he would stop incorrectly using the idiom “begged the question”).
All told, an interesting look at what oxytocin is, and some interesting ideas on what understanding and harnessing it could mean.
May 6, 2013
He intended to draw a correlation between trust, happiness and morality; citing all could be increased with a single hormone - oxytocin. It is highly doubtful though that a moral person can be a happy person, as a psychopath who gets a kick (happiness) from killing but is certainly not moral in the eyes of the society. A person who thinks twice about helping a stranger (trust) is not necessarily a bad person (immoral), he just wants to ensure the safety of himself as well taking measures from becoming a victim of fraud. However, high trust did correspond to high happiness (which was common in religious people) but it can be argued that this happiness (or high) is an illusion, as the spike increase in oxytocin can also be observed by those who have taken euphoric drugs like ecstasy.
A good attempt to simplify the morality in humans but alas contains many contradictions and gaping questions to the actual relationship between the hormone and morality per se.
A good attempt to simplify the morality in humans but alas contains many contradictions and gaping questions to the actual relationship between the hormone and morality per se.
January 8, 2013
You sort of get the idea pretty quickly with this one, but the book's thesis - that human beings are predisposed to empathy and social behaviour - is so profound that the evidence is well worth hearing. Written in an easy, chatty style, I would give is three and a half stars as a read in itself, but six in terms of its importance. It will change the way you think about yourself and other people, and affect your own behaviour on a day to day basis.
October 22, 2012
Interesting read and while i enjoyed the science, I am a bit suspect of the methodology. However, I do believe in the power of a hug as Zak suggests.
August 18, 2012
Paul Zak is an unusual combination: Economist and neuroscientist. His obsessive investigations would crossover into intrusiveness were he not so infectiously enthusiastic. He humorously refers to his studies as vampire economics. The opening chapter finds him at a wedding, drawing blood samples from the wedding party in order to quantify their increased oxytocin level (oxytocin being the “moral molecule” of the title). Does it deserve the epithet, or is this merely excessive “hype”?
The scientific basis for his claim is a simple “Trust” game and its variants. A cohort is divided into Group A and Group B. Individuals in Group A are each given a sum of money, say $10. They volunteer to give a partner in Group B a portion of the $10 which is then tripled in amount to the recipient. The Group B recipient then volunteers an amount to reciprocate. He can opt to give all or nothing. Zak correlates the amounts given and reciprocated with starting and ending blood oxytocin levels in the subjects. In general, 90% of the Group A subjects elect to give; 95% of the Group B subjects choose to reciprocate. His measurements indicate a strong correlation between spike in oxytocin level and reciprocal giving.
At this point, he summons arguments from evolutionary biology. Increases in oxytocin level faciliate increases in trust. Trust, in turn, facilitates sexual encounter, and thus broadens the opportunity for contributing to the overall gene pool. For example, in order to mate, the female lobster must trust sufficiently to abandon her shell when she mates. Trust is also a necessary component for cooperative socialization. The prairie vole, as opposed to the meadow vole, is part of an organized social colony. Prairie voles have more oxytocin receptors than their more independent cousins, the meadow voles.
Zak is able to reduce complex scientific data into delightfully comprehensive chunks, and these are the parts of the book I enjoyed the most. He points out that the level of blood oxytocin is not the critical factor. There must be a spike from baseline to post-event (he stumbles upon this discovery in an experiment with psychologically traumatized subjects). Second, the oxytocin must be absorbed through receptors which are distributed in specific areas of the brain. The receptors, in turn, determine the release of other neurotransmitters such as dopamine and serotonin. A modulating effect occurs simultaneously. Contra-chemicals – testosterone, cortisol and epinephrine, can either inhibit the release of oxytocin or block the oxytocin receptors. A combination of testosterone and dopamine (induced by oxytocin) can induce a state of enjoyment over aggressive behavior. If the subgenual cortex is stimulated, judgment rather than empathy can be the dominant emotion. Some of the most intriguing observations concern spikes in testosterone during one of the “Trust” experiments. The testosterone correlated with an increase in the threshold amounts that subjects would consider as “acceptable” giving and reciprocation. Amounts below this threshold triggered rejection (punishment), even if it caused harm to both parties. He speculates on the relationship between empowerment and feelings of entitlement. A final set of experiments focus on the correlation between oxytocin spiking, generosity, and in-group behaviors.
Speculative generalizations are this book's weakness. Zak suggests that autism may be linked to what he terms oxytocin deficiency disorder (potentially confusing, since ODD is referred to in the psychological literature as something completely different – Oppositional Defiant Disorder). He repeats the pop-psych conjecture that an increase in Aspergers Syndrome in the Silicon Valley is due to mating of ueber nerdy cyber geeks who themselves excel professionally because of their own asperger-like traits. This casual aside might fit into a speech to generate some humor, but in the context of the book, it feels like undisciplined thinking. An analysis of trust in the marketplace devolves into what felt to me like wishful thinking. “Greed is good” may have been repeatedly demonstrated to be bad for society, and its long-term outcomes. That fact, however, has not proven to be a corporate culture game changer. The individual is simultaneously a member of complex family configurations, multiple task and departmental employee groups, peer-based colleagues, a wider network of professionals, etc. Moral and immoral impulses can emanate from any one of these conflicting affiliations. The same holds for constructive versus destructive decisions, since constructive and moral are not identical. Zak is cognizant of these contradictions (experiments with religious and military based groups), but prefers optimistic inferences.
Ultimately, much of my dissatisfaction stems from my own inclinations. I prefer precision. Examinations of chemical biofeedback and homeostasis feel much more convincing than the broader functionalist approach offered here. Zak's examination of the “biology that underlies market behavior” (p. 160) seems less rewarding than the traditional perspective of the social relations that underlie market behavior. I admit these are personal prejudices. In conclusion, I recommend MORAL MOLECULE as an interesting starting point for questions, particularly about market integration, but the answers he proposes felt unproven.
The scientific basis for his claim is a simple “Trust” game and its variants. A cohort is divided into Group A and Group B. Individuals in Group A are each given a sum of money, say $10. They volunteer to give a partner in Group B a portion of the $10 which is then tripled in amount to the recipient. The Group B recipient then volunteers an amount to reciprocate. He can opt to give all or nothing. Zak correlates the amounts given and reciprocated with starting and ending blood oxytocin levels in the subjects. In general, 90% of the Group A subjects elect to give; 95% of the Group B subjects choose to reciprocate. His measurements indicate a strong correlation between spike in oxytocin level and reciprocal giving.
At this point, he summons arguments from evolutionary biology. Increases in oxytocin level faciliate increases in trust. Trust, in turn, facilitates sexual encounter, and thus broadens the opportunity for contributing to the overall gene pool. For example, in order to mate, the female lobster must trust sufficiently to abandon her shell when she mates. Trust is also a necessary component for cooperative socialization. The prairie vole, as opposed to the meadow vole, is part of an organized social colony. Prairie voles have more oxytocin receptors than their more independent cousins, the meadow voles.
Zak is able to reduce complex scientific data into delightfully comprehensive chunks, and these are the parts of the book I enjoyed the most. He points out that the level of blood oxytocin is not the critical factor. There must be a spike from baseline to post-event (he stumbles upon this discovery in an experiment with psychologically traumatized subjects). Second, the oxytocin must be absorbed through receptors which are distributed in specific areas of the brain. The receptors, in turn, determine the release of other neurotransmitters such as dopamine and serotonin. A modulating effect occurs simultaneously. Contra-chemicals – testosterone, cortisol and epinephrine, can either inhibit the release of oxytocin or block the oxytocin receptors. A combination of testosterone and dopamine (induced by oxytocin) can induce a state of enjoyment over aggressive behavior. If the subgenual cortex is stimulated, judgment rather than empathy can be the dominant emotion. Some of the most intriguing observations concern spikes in testosterone during one of the “Trust” experiments. The testosterone correlated with an increase in the threshold amounts that subjects would consider as “acceptable” giving and reciprocation. Amounts below this threshold triggered rejection (punishment), even if it caused harm to both parties. He speculates on the relationship between empowerment and feelings of entitlement. A final set of experiments focus on the correlation between oxytocin spiking, generosity, and in-group behaviors.
Speculative generalizations are this book's weakness. Zak suggests that autism may be linked to what he terms oxytocin deficiency disorder (potentially confusing, since ODD is referred to in the psychological literature as something completely different – Oppositional Defiant Disorder). He repeats the pop-psych conjecture that an increase in Aspergers Syndrome in the Silicon Valley is due to mating of ueber nerdy cyber geeks who themselves excel professionally because of their own asperger-like traits. This casual aside might fit into a speech to generate some humor, but in the context of the book, it feels like undisciplined thinking. An analysis of trust in the marketplace devolves into what felt to me like wishful thinking. “Greed is good” may have been repeatedly demonstrated to be bad for society, and its long-term outcomes. That fact, however, has not proven to be a corporate culture game changer. The individual is simultaneously a member of complex family configurations, multiple task and departmental employee groups, peer-based colleagues, a wider network of professionals, etc. Moral and immoral impulses can emanate from any one of these conflicting affiliations. The same holds for constructive versus destructive decisions, since constructive and moral are not identical. Zak is cognizant of these contradictions (experiments with religious and military based groups), but prefers optimistic inferences.
Ultimately, much of my dissatisfaction stems from my own inclinations. I prefer precision. Examinations of chemical biofeedback and homeostasis feel much more convincing than the broader functionalist approach offered here. Zak's examination of the “biology that underlies market behavior” (p. 160) seems less rewarding than the traditional perspective of the social relations that underlie market behavior. I admit these are personal prejudices. In conclusion, I recommend MORAL MOLECULE as an interesting starting point for questions, particularly about market integration, but the answers he proposes felt unproven.
January 19, 2023
โมเลกุลศีลธรรมในที่นี้หมายถึง oxytocin ผู้เขียนเสนอว่าโมเลกุลดังกล่าวนี่แหละที่รับผิดชอบต่อความมีศีลธรรมของคนเรา การนำเสนอรองรับด้วยการทดลองสนุก ๆ มากมาย ส่วนใหญ่เป็นการทดลองโดยใช้เกมยอดฮิตทางเศรษฐศาสตร์อย่าง trust game หรือ ultimatum แต่เพิ่มการเจาะเลือดเพื่อวิเคราะห์ก่อนและหลังการเล่นเกม เชื่อว่าหลังอ่านจบ มุมมองคุณที่มีต่อจริยศาสตร์หรือศีลธรรมจะต่างออกไปจากเดิมอย่างแน่นอน
August 28, 2012
Fluffy book (aka for business people) about oxytocin. Vasopressin, testosterone, and mirror neurons are also mentioned. A book to be skipped by anyone who has any knowledge about the brain at all. The writing is entertaining, self congratulatory (which most neuroscience books are) (so I guess that can be forgiven), and overly reductionistic. It reads more like a series of magazine articles than an actual book about neuroscience. Very little research or scholarship went into this book.
July 15, 2017
This book has been so fascinating, covering far more than I expected and it challenged several lifelong beliefs I had. For example, I believed we would have no morality without religion--not that you have to be religious to be moral, but that morality was conceptualized by religion. That is simply not the case. Our DNA is programed for us to act in ways we socially define as "moral" because that is required for species survival. The beginning part about Oxycetocin was also very interesting. Zak has a 24-minute Ted talk (free on Youtube) that covers most of what is in this book and you can use it as a gauge if you want to dive deeper. One exception, he spends an incredible amount of time on Autism, which if you know someone who has autism, I strongly encourage you read that part of this book.
March 2, 2025
Possibly the most important book I've ever read. Answered questions I've had about human behavior my entire life. A must read.
October 25, 2017
This book is written in a very readable way, means no medical terms to confuse you. It surrounded by 2 hormones: Oxytocin and testosterone. Oxytocin plays a very important role on human's empathy and love affection. I have learned that a father of a new born baby would have a lot more oxytocin in their blood and the testosterone would drop a lot. This would last for long as long as they keep staying with their kids.
In this book, it brought up a fun experiment that oxytocin could be used as "magic loyal hormone", it could make a male become deeply in love with his partner and never cheats. So many women are asking if this product could be on market so they would spray on their husbands..LOL.
Another fact about human body, since testosterone is male hormone but also exists in female, it leads men to be aggressive, adventurous, impulsive, suspicious on others. Before female's ovulation, her testosterone level is the highest, and this is the wonder of nature. Why? To bear a baby is a lot of time and energy, she needs to be careful and cautious to choose the right "father". Testosterone made her not so easily to trust on "sweet talkers" .(well, quite a lot failed, otherwise there won't be bunches of a$$h**es who abandoned their families.)
Children who were neglected and abused during the childhood are failed to produce oxytocin, means they simply can not feel the pain from others, but some would lie and fake they do (tho MRI would show the truth)
Then Zak brought up religious mind seems to give believers peace of mind and the stability of society, he doesn't agree on R. Dawkins' totally denial the function of religions. (I personally think religion should be kept as personal choice and no one should be forced to accept, except i think churches and temples should also pay the tax, to be fair!)
The ending is a bit weak that Zak pointed out how to be in a happy nation: human connection, education, social welfare...etc.
In this book, it brought up a fun experiment that oxytocin could be used as "magic loyal hormone", it could make a male become deeply in love with his partner and never cheats. So many women are asking if this product could be on market so they would spray on their husbands..LOL.
Another fact about human body, since testosterone is male hormone but also exists in female, it leads men to be aggressive, adventurous, impulsive, suspicious on others. Before female's ovulation, her testosterone level is the highest, and this is the wonder of nature. Why? To bear a baby is a lot of time and energy, she needs to be careful and cautious to choose the right "father". Testosterone made her not so easily to trust on "sweet talkers" .(well, quite a lot failed, otherwise there won't be bunches of a$$h**es who abandoned their families.)
Children who were neglected and abused during the childhood are failed to produce oxytocin, means they simply can not feel the pain from others, but some would lie and fake they do (tho MRI would show the truth)
Then Zak brought up religious mind seems to give believers peace of mind and the stability of society, he doesn't agree on R. Dawkins' totally denial the function of religions. (I personally think religion should be kept as personal choice and no one should be forced to accept, except i think churches and temples should also pay the tax, to be fair!)
The ending is a bit weak that Zak pointed out how to be in a happy nation: human connection, education, social welfare...etc.
June 20, 2023
Zak refiere que los humanos somos lo que los zoólogos llaman una especie obligatoriamente gregaria: prosperamos en grupo, y solos no nos desenvolvemos bien, física ni emocionalmente, durante periodos largos.
Partiendo de la premisa de que somos criaturas biológicas y que todo lo que somos surge de un proceso biológico, su interés se orienta a identificar qué mensajeros químicos confluyen en el surgimiento del comportamiento afectivo que toda cultura, en cualquier lugar del mundo, aprueba como la forma correcta de vivir.
El énfasis del presente libro es la oxitocina, a la cual denomina la Molécula Moral, pues posee la cualidad de propiciar una conducta adaptativa y prosocial. Esta hormona tiene la propiedad de interactuar con otras sustancias químicas presentes en el cuerpo humano, lo que da lugar a un circuito de retroalimentación. Al combinarse con serotonina y dopamina (consideradas sustancias del bienestar) activa el circuito HOME, considerado un ciclo virtuoso. Sin embargo, éste circuito puede verse alterado si la oxitocina interactúa con sustancias como el cortisol o la testosterona, inhibiendo los efectos positivos asociados y favoreciendo el surgimiento de un estado displacentero y el comportamiento disfuncional (en el sentido de que se aleja de lo prosocial).
La presentación de la información sugiere que se dirige a público general, pues procura simplificar la terminología y comparte anécdotas con el fin de esclarecer y ejemplificar. A pesar de que el título puede sonar bastante meloso, su contenido no pierde la formalidad. Describe la metodología de sus investigaciones y reporta sus hallazgos.
Partiendo de la premisa de que somos criaturas biológicas y que todo lo que somos surge de un proceso biológico, su interés se orienta a identificar qué mensajeros químicos confluyen en el surgimiento del comportamiento afectivo que toda cultura, en cualquier lugar del mundo, aprueba como la forma correcta de vivir.
El énfasis del presente libro es la oxitocina, a la cual denomina la Molécula Moral, pues posee la cualidad de propiciar una conducta adaptativa y prosocial. Esta hormona tiene la propiedad de interactuar con otras sustancias químicas presentes en el cuerpo humano, lo que da lugar a un circuito de retroalimentación. Al combinarse con serotonina y dopamina (consideradas sustancias del bienestar) activa el circuito HOME, considerado un ciclo virtuoso. Sin embargo, éste circuito puede verse alterado si la oxitocina interactúa con sustancias como el cortisol o la testosterona, inhibiendo los efectos positivos asociados y favoreciendo el surgimiento de un estado displacentero y el comportamiento disfuncional (en el sentido de que se aleja de lo prosocial).
La presentación de la información sugiere que se dirige a público general, pues procura simplificar la terminología y comparte anécdotas con el fin de esclarecer y ejemplificar. A pesar de que el título puede sonar bastante meloso, su contenido no pierde la formalidad. Describe la metodología de sus investigaciones y reporta sus hallazgos.
September 15, 2015
Very good storytelling science. Paul Zak uses a coloquial approach to talk about his neurosciences discoveries, making it very easy for non specialist to grasp meanings and real implications of what has been discovered. Zak knows his works has been highly promoted by the media, thus in this book he does a very good work at debunking misconceptions about the easy solutions presented by the simplified media messages.
Oxytocin is the molecule Zak talks about. Zak argues, with empirical evidence, that a surge of oxytocin in our body is enough to transform us in more trusty persons, to believe more in the others, to feel empathic for others. Oxytocin acts upon our empathy through the serotonin and dopamine, the two molecules responsible for our internal mood system.
The relevance of this finding, is that oxytocin doesn't act per se, our body can be full of it, and have no effect, because it only acts upon our system when there's a surge of it on our brain. That's why you cannot create a drug based on it, only if you could inject it directly on the brain. So to make the surge happen Zak talks about some actions you can do, the most easy one, and the one for what Zak became known, is to hug people. When you hug for real someone, your body reacts injecting oxytocin into the system, making you feel more trusty toward the others, and consequently more happy throughout the day.
Oxytocin is the molecule Zak talks about. Zak argues, with empirical evidence, that a surge of oxytocin in our body is enough to transform us in more trusty persons, to believe more in the others, to feel empathic for others. Oxytocin acts upon our empathy through the serotonin and dopamine, the two molecules responsible for our internal mood system.
The relevance of this finding, is that oxytocin doesn't act per se, our body can be full of it, and have no effect, because it only acts upon our system when there's a surge of it on our brain. That's why you cannot create a drug based on it, only if you could inject it directly on the brain. So to make the surge happen Zak talks about some actions you can do, the most easy one, and the one for what Zak became known, is to hug people. When you hug for real someone, your body reacts injecting oxytocin into the system, making you feel more trusty toward the others, and consequently more happy throughout the day.
December 15, 2012
This is an excellent book. It is easy to read and understand. It helps to understand the research that Dr. Paul Zak has done on Oxytocin, a chemical that is in our blood and affects our behavior. He demonstrates how a surge in this chemical affects how we trust others. He states that something as simple as a hug increases ones feeling of happiness, love, and trust. It not only increases the trust between individuals, but can increase trust between different "tribes" and different nations.
Makes me think that all Congressional sessions should begin, not with prayer by a chaplain, but by all people who are "across the aisle" crossing the aisle to give hugs to those on the other side. I think if you hugged someone and if you have gotten your hit of Oxytocin, it might go far in changing the political climate in Washington. Hey, it might work and it doesn't increase our taxes one cent.
Makes me think that all Congressional sessions should begin, not with prayer by a chaplain, but by all people who are "across the aisle" crossing the aisle to give hugs to those on the other side. I think if you hugged someone and if you have gotten your hit of Oxytocin, it might go far in changing the political climate in Washington. Hey, it might work and it doesn't increase our taxes one cent.
June 19, 2012
The most interesting and easiest to follow section of the book was the last chapter. Most of the earlier sections are written like a brain dump - randomly ordered details printed in the order in which they occurred to the author, making the reading tedious at best.
August 5, 2012
Probably the most interesting book I've read all year. The author's assertions in areas outside of his immediate expertise are sometimes painfully over-generalized and silly, but the core work is fascinating.
November 11, 2012
Zak has cheapened his good, scientific research into oxytocin by excessively "dumbing it down." It's one thing to write about science for the general public and try to make it an interesting read, but Zak went overboard. This cutesy treatment cheapens important science.
May 12, 2022
Zak's enthusiasm for describing his technique of combining economic-based studies to examine oxytocin release in his subjects is quite amusing and keeps one reading. Unfortunately, by the end of the book I came to the realization that all such studies, and I mean all, are deeply flawed. Psych students are routinely expected to participate in such studies as class requirements. So from the get go, the subjects of many such studies are in the 18 - 25 age bracket, their brains are certainly not mature, and probably most of them are in Cook-Greuter's Ego 3 or 4 category at most, with maybe a 5 here in there but not many. Now add to this giant flaw the manner in which such studies are conducted. The test is done and the results are compiled by control group vs. test group. Some interesting result may be found. But at this point, the experimenters record their data, publish their findings, and cash in their grant money, job well done. But this is just where it should get interesting! In order to really understand their results, the experimenters should know a whole heck of a lot more about their subjects! For such data to be truly meaningful, all these subjects should be given personality inventories, or better yet, have Cook-Greuter's evaluations performed. It's like the infamous Milgrim Shock Experiment. The subjects were all volunteers who read about the experiment in the paper and said they wanted to help Yale with its important work. They signed up to be obedient from the very beginning! The least he could have done was to repeat the experiment with a very different bunch of people, chosen in a different way. It seems that all psychology is based on the idea that all people think alike.
April 8, 2024
Zak refiere que los humanos somos lo que los zoólogos llaman una especie obligatoriamente gregaria: prosperamos en grupo, y solos no nos desenvolvemos bien, física ni emocionalmente, durante periodos largos.
Partiendo de la premisa de que somos criaturas biológicas y que todo lo que somos surge de un proceso biológico, su interés se orienta a identificar qué mensajeros químicos confluyen en el surgimiento del comportamiento afectivo que toda cultura, en cualquier lugar del mundo, aprueba como la forma correcta de vivir.
El énfasis del presente libro es la oxitocina, a la cual denomina la Molécula Moral, pues posee la cualidad de propiciar una conducta adaptativa y prosocial. Esta hormona tiene la propiedad de interactuar con otras sustancias químicas presentes en el cuerpo humano, lo que da lugar a un circuito de retroalimentación. Al combinarse con serotonina y dopamina (consideradas sustancias del bienestar) activa el circuito HOME, considerado un ciclo virtuoso. Sin embargo, éste circuito puede verse alterado si la oxitocina interactúa con sustancias como el cortisol o la testosterona, inhibiendo los efectos positivos asociados y favoreciendo el surgimiento de un estado displacentero y el comportamiento disfuncional (en el sentido de que se aleja de lo prosocial).
La presentación de la información sugiere que se dirige a público general, pues procura simplificar la terminología y comparte anécdotas con el fin de esclarecer y ejemplificar.
A pesar de que el título puede sonar bastante meloso, su contenido no pierde la formalidad. Describe la metodología de sus investigaciones y reporta sus hallazgos.
Partiendo de la premisa de que somos criaturas biológicas y que todo lo que somos surge de un proceso biológico, su interés se orienta a identificar qué mensajeros químicos confluyen en el surgimiento del comportamiento afectivo que toda cultura, en cualquier lugar del mundo, aprueba como la forma correcta de vivir.
El énfasis del presente libro es la oxitocina, a la cual denomina la Molécula Moral, pues posee la cualidad de propiciar una conducta adaptativa y prosocial. Esta hormona tiene la propiedad de interactuar con otras sustancias químicas presentes en el cuerpo humano, lo que da lugar a un circuito de retroalimentación. Al combinarse con serotonina y dopamina (consideradas sustancias del bienestar) activa el circuito HOME, considerado un ciclo virtuoso. Sin embargo, éste circuito puede verse alterado si la oxitocina interactúa con sustancias como el cortisol o la testosterona, inhibiendo los efectos positivos asociados y favoreciendo el surgimiento de un estado displacentero y el comportamiento disfuncional (en el sentido de que se aleja de lo prosocial).
La presentación de la información sugiere que se dirige a público general, pues procura simplificar la terminología y comparte anécdotas con el fin de esclarecer y ejemplificar.
A pesar de que el título puede sonar bastante meloso, su contenido no pierde la formalidad. Describe la metodología de sus investigaciones y reporta sus hallazgos.
August 16, 2017
I want to say this book was ok because I distinctly remember enjoying parts of it but for the life of me it was just not very memorable. This may not necessarily be a reflection of the content of the book. I read it during a very busy month and primarily in bed right before going to sleep. From what I do recall, the book presented what I would describe as a pop psych style introduction to Zak's research. I did read several reviews of the book, most of which complained about the seeming lack of appropriate scientific inquiry and method to his research. I would in no way describe it as a thorough representation of his research and would, therefore, encourage anyone interested to look up the actual peer-reviewed articles (at least 4 of which can be found on PLOS ONE: http://journals.plos.org/plosone/sear...). Also, some of the best research has been born of personal experiments to pre-test ideas. So in regard to comments about his self-experimentation, I say any scientist who is willing to self-test is demonstrating passion if nothing else. And that is the one thing that unequivocally stood out for me in his writing, his passion for the subject matter. So while I did not necessarily gain a lot of take-away from this book, I did enjoy sharing in his journey. I also appreciated the last chapter wherein he applies his research to practical and worldly considerations. He did a beautiful job of summarizing and concluding the book.
April 5, 2018
Well at one point I was going to go with three stars, as it felt like he was going to tout Oxytocin as a panacea. However, eventually he got into the counterbalance with testosterone and more importantly the feedback between neurophysiology and psychosocial development that can cause different behaviors to the same stimulus. I do think the title should have been something more along the line of "The Philosophy of the Moral Molecule and Mankind's Trust based Societies". It was very eclectic and not really a book about any one particular thing so much as it was about how we react to our world and how it changes our relationships with others. All this from an Economic, Religious, Philosophical and Neurobiology perspective. Oxytocin is just one aspect of an overall developmental, physiological and psychosocial tapestry of life that weaves a pattern of health and well being or sickness and misery. It does help to understand that we should try to look for markers in others behavior that show whether they are in control of their faculties or not, so at least we aren't made vulnerable to Psychopaths. Outside of that we need to try and be more tolerant of each other, for mutual benefit. This is a Good Read.
August 29, 2023
"Darwin susţinea că motivul pentru care convingerile religioase au apărut şi au rezistat este că, mulţumită lor, societăţile umane au devenit mai dispuse să coopereze şi să se sacrifice pentru binele comun, ceea ce le-a permis să depăşească grupurile de indivizi mânaţi doar de interesul personal, cărora le lipsea liantul social al unei credinţe comune şi sentimentul unui scop mai înalt decât propria persoană.
Dar doza aceasta dublă ne dezvăluie totodată dezavantajul fervorii religioase. Aceeaşi uniune în cadrul grupului care creează o empatie atotstapanitoare şi o dorinţa de sacrificiu pentru binele comun poate duce şi la aprinderea ostilităţilor faţă de orice grup extern. Când eşti atât de îmbătat de sentimentul extatic, încât simţi că îl ai pe Dumnezeu de partea ta, membrii altor grupuri nu mai sunt doar "ceilalţi". Devin "păcătoşii" sau "păgânii" sau "sămânţa Diavolului"- iar aceştia trebuie şterşi de pe faţă pământului. Simbolistica legată de EKSTASTIS s-a dovedit neaşteptat de eficace în decorurile folosite de Ku Klux Klan, cu crucile în flăcări şi glugile albe, precum şi în adunările uriaşe organizate de Joseph Goebbels pentru Hitler în epoca nazistă."
Dar doza aceasta dublă ne dezvăluie totodată dezavantajul fervorii religioase. Aceeaşi uniune în cadrul grupului care creează o empatie atotstapanitoare şi o dorinţa de sacrificiu pentru binele comun poate duce şi la aprinderea ostilităţilor faţă de orice grup extern. Când eşti atât de îmbătat de sentimentul extatic, încât simţi că îl ai pe Dumnezeu de partea ta, membrii altor grupuri nu mai sunt doar "ceilalţi". Devin "păcătoşii" sau "păgânii" sau "sămânţa Diavolului"- iar aceştia trebuie şterşi de pe faţă pământului. Simbolistica legată de EKSTASTIS s-a dovedit neaşteptat de eficace în decorurile folosite de Ku Klux Klan, cu crucile în flăcări şi glugile albe, precum şi în adunările uriaşe organizate de Joseph Goebbels pentru Hitler în epoca nazistă."
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 5, 2021
Essential reading for Positive Psychology
This is an excellent book that blends elements of autobiographical journey with accessible science with anthropological observations. Throughout, there are snippets of self-help as well.
Dr. Zak treats his readers as peers as he shares details of various experiments that he’s done over the years and offers the insights for consideration.
He clearly has a passion for his topic and a kindness that allows him to share his knowledge in such an understandable manner.
Oxytocin is known as the love drug or the hug hormone; thanks to Dr. Zak, I now realize that it’s not so trite as that. It’s deeper than just two people embracing (as amazing as that can be), it’s the foundation for creating the society that we all want to achieve. Think of this book as a guidebook to making that happen.
This is an excellent book that blends elements of autobiographical journey with accessible science with anthropological observations. Throughout, there are snippets of self-help as well.
Dr. Zak treats his readers as peers as he shares details of various experiments that he’s done over the years and offers the insights for consideration.
He clearly has a passion for his topic and a kindness that allows him to share his knowledge in such an understandable manner.
Oxytocin is known as the love drug or the hug hormone; thanks to Dr. Zak, I now realize that it’s not so trite as that. It’s deeper than just two people embracing (as amazing as that can be), it’s the foundation for creating the society that we all want to achieve. Think of this book as a guidebook to making that happen.
April 7, 2020
3.5
Zak writes more as a salesman than as a scientist, with lots of personal accounts and ideas with no rigorous foundation other than his experience and opinions. Still, his more scientific findings about the role of oxytocin (and it's antagonist, testosterone) and how it affects us is essential to the understanding that trust and cooperation can (and should) be part of our usual modus operandi. Beyond the obvious benefits to personal happiness and a better experience with our communities, Zak - being an economist as well - also shows how it could improve productivity in companies and economic prosperity, which makes the book unique.
Zak writes more as a salesman than as a scientist, with lots of personal accounts and ideas with no rigorous foundation other than his experience and opinions. Still, his more scientific findings about the role of oxytocin (and it's antagonist, testosterone) and how it affects us is essential to the understanding that trust and cooperation can (and should) be part of our usual modus operandi. Beyond the obvious benefits to personal happiness and a better experience with our communities, Zak - being an economist as well - also shows how it could improve productivity in companies and economic prosperity, which makes the book unique.
May 18, 2023
I want to leave a 4.5 stars. I thought the topic of oxytoxin was very interesting. I enjoyed learning how and why we produce it and the differences between men and women. I'm glad there was a lot of research into this subject and why people make certain choices. I enjoyed the ending about social dynamics and how if we find our purpose in helping other that in turn leads to us feeling better about ourselves. There is a chapter studying prisoners and their mindset in choice and I felt that was very interesting. It's also important to continue to read and learn about new things to be able to be more empathetic to others and the way their think.
December 17, 2020
I’ve known oxytocin as the feel-good hormone that’s released during sex and that triggers lactation. What I didn’t know was that this biological substance is linked to morality, a supposedly philosophical concept.
This Moral Molecule makes a very engaging case of the evolutionary benefits of morality and how oxytocin comes into play to make economies and, ultimately, the human species prosper.
If you enjoy an interdisciplinary approach to understanding science from angles of history, cultures, and economics, then this book would be an interesting ride.
This Moral Molecule makes a very engaging case of the evolutionary benefits of morality and how oxytocin comes into play to make economies and, ultimately, the human species prosper.
If you enjoy an interdisciplinary approach to understanding science from angles of history, cultures, and economics, then this book would be an interesting ride.
February 25, 2020
Trust the people around you to become happier
This is a great book on the effects of oxytocin in your relationships and countries. Paul explains the trust experiment he ran and how it differed from person to person based on biases, environment and other variables, in order to draw conclusions on how these play an important role not only in how we act in a society, but how we impact others and how we all impact nations, prosperity, and wealth. Great read!
This is a great book on the effects of oxytocin in your relationships and countries. Paul explains the trust experiment he ran and how it differed from person to person based on biases, environment and other variables, in order to draw conclusions on how these play an important role not only in how we act in a society, but how we impact others and how we all impact nations, prosperity, and wealth. Great read!
January 16, 2023
Such an interesting read on the theories and experiments between oxytocin and trust. I really loved the crazy scientific experiment with which this book starts off with and the doctor's passion that just kept getting deeper and deeper as he dives further into his work over the years. As I was reading, I began to realize that it wasn't just a scientist studying a molecule named oxytocin, but a human being truly fascinated by humans! So interesting, I will definitely read his other work.
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