Hugs, kisses and handholding with family and close friends can release oxytocin, possibly inspiring feelings of happiness in some. This may be an evolutionary response to reward humans for close contact.
Oxytocin enhances brain reward system responses in men viewing the face of their female partner.
According to love biologist Dawn Maslar, the chemicals dopamine and vasopressin are vital for a man to start falling in love, whereas it's oxytocin and dopamine for women. Oxytocin, often nicknamed the love or cuddle hormone, also plays an important role in men but at a later stage.
Oxytocin is released in response to activation of sensory nerves during labor, breastfeeding and sexual activity. In addition oxytocin is released in response to low intensity stimulation of the skin, e.g., in response to touch, stroking, warm temperature, etc.
You may also experience this pleasant hormone rush when being physically affectionate with non-sexual partners. Hugs, kisses and handholding with family and close friends can release oxytocin, possibly inspiring feelings of happiness in some. This may be an evolutionary response to reward humans for close contact.
Chemistry is born of several different factors like physical attraction, mental stimulation, shared values and interests.
“A man will commit when he feels a deep connection with a woman that he doesn't feel with anyone else; when he finds a lover who is also his best friend that makes him feel special and unique,” Tripp says.
Most of the studies found higher levels of oxytocin during the orgasm or ejaculation. Given the sexual arousal evoked by self-stimulation in which sexual fantasies play an important role, it should be possible to postulate for a role of the oxytocin in sexual desire.
For people assigned male at birth, high levels of oxytocin have been linked to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). BPH is a condition in which the prostate, a walnut-sized body part made of glandular and muscular tissue, grows in size.
The cuddle hormone
Men also have oxytocin, but it is compensated for by higher levels of testosterone - so they are less prone to cuddling!
Men have been shown to be particularly sensitive to physical contact, so touch likely boosted their oxytocin levels considerably, Melton says. “Justifying small ways to make any activity one where we're touching our partner, whether that's touching of the arm or around the shoulder, [could be useful],” Melton says.
Its best to begin with light small touches on the arms and hands, to make the oxytocin effect kick in. Take her hand while taking to her (never ask for it, just take it), play thumb wrestling or pretend to read her palm or just play footsies under the table.
Oxytocin induces penile erection and copulatory activity by activating its own neurons in the rat PVN.
In plain language: Men often feel most loved by the women in their lives when their partners hug them, kiss them, smile at them, and explicitly offer gratitude, praise, and words of affection. Men also feel loved and connected through sexuality, often to a greater degree than women do.
We women tend to get a bit over-excited about certain things, and while we can be a tad neurotic and frenzied, irresistible men seem to simply radiate calm and a can-do attitude. A steady gaze and cool written all over his face makes his sex appeal shoot through the roof.
Both men and women consistently cite emotional stability and maturity as one of the most attractive traits in a potential spouse. While men often fall victim to the stereotype of prioritizing physical attraction, when it comes to a potential wife, they want a woman who is grounded and secure in herself.
When you have chemistry with someone, you don't need to force anything — including awkward small talk. You can sit together in silence and not feel weird about it. “Instead, you may feel a sense of comfort knowing they're with you, no matter what you're doing,” Hafeez says.
Waiting with sex. This allows the man to increase his vasopressin and dopamine levels and the corresponding receptors that make him fall in love and not just be sexually attracted.
There are studies that show that the types of words that we use release neurochemicals in our brains. Certain positive words can release oxytocin and negatively associated words can release cortisol⁽¹⁾.
Blood and saliva tests showed that men in the kissing group had a burst of oxytocin, but in women, levels of this hormone fell.