Shyness can become a serious obstacle that prevents some people from coping normally with everyday life situations. To combat the problem, a group of researchers from Concordia University in Montreal (Canada) has developed an oxytocin spray that could be used to encourage extraversion , improve self-confidence in social contexts and combat shyness.
According to the authors of this finding in the journal Psychophamarcology , "oxytocin can change how people perceive themselves. In this way, it facilitates social behavior and modifies the way in which we process and interpret external social signals. In the medical field, oxytocin is also known as the attachment or hug hormone , and it is synthesized in large quantities during pregnancy.
The study used two types of sprays that were administered to 100 men and women between the ages of 18 and 35, one with oxytocin and the other with a substance that worked as a placebo. After 90 minutes, they found that the participants who took intranasal oxytocin had higher ratings for extroversion, agreeableness, and openness to new experiences than those who used the placebo. Altruism, trust, and warmth in dealing with others also increased after exposure to oxytocin.
