File photo of two men shaking hands (© Gary Buss/Getty Images)

Scientist may have found out why trust makes us happy

4/29/2012

What makes your spouse so wonderful, and your boss such a jerk? It might be science. A new report suggests that a single chemical, oxytocin, might be at the center of our moral lives. Paul J. Zak conducted several experiments over a 10-year period during which he basically spiked people's lives with the chemical and watched their generosity go straight up, even with total strangers. When you're not being artificially oxytocin-bombed, it increases naturally when you are in trusting situations and decreases in distrusting ones. It's exactly what the Beatles said: "The love you take is equal to the love you make." But now it's science, and not just an awesome song.

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