Oxytocin,Dopamine ,Generosity, Bonding and Pleasure

"How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives."
– Annie Dillard

 

Humans are more complex and at times seem to exhibit contradictory behavior. For example Charles Darwin wrote about the” survival of the fittest” and the idea that individuals are motivated to look out for themselves and that only the strongest survive. Similarly, John Stuart Mill believed and described man  “does that by which he may obtain the greatest amount of necessaries, conveniences and luxuries, with the smallest quantity of labor and physical self denial.”

On the other hand,  what about notions of empathy, generosity, altruism , and a host of giving behaviors? According to 2011 statistics, 64.3 million Americans volunteered through an organization  ; 8 billion total hours were spent by Americans volunteering and 171 billion was estimated in the value of volunteered hours.

Some of you might say that we give  because it helps ensure the survival of others in our complex society. This idea  suggests that we can improve our own prospects by contributing to the welfare of others. So what is supreme? Is it me, me, me or we, we, we ?

If you were a football player, who played for Bo Schembechler,  he would have wanted you to become the fittest you could become , in order that you could help and be part of the team or we. For Schembechler, it was about the team, the team, the team. There was no room for me, me, me, while playing for that man. You might say that goals and rewards had something to do with developing group cohesion. However, if  a fMRI was used to evaluate blood flow in the prefrontal  parts of the brain  of his players, it would likely find lots of receptors for oxytocin- the hormone that promotes bonding.

Giving to your teammates , all that you have ,  sacrificing through personal pain,  demonstrating  mental toughness , and doing all that you can to make the team  better was exemplified by Bo Schembechler’s football players. Even though the players were young and self-centered, they became givers, great teammates to each other. This fMRI scan would more likely reveal increased blood flow in the same region of the midbrain that controls cravings for food, sex , as well as that area of the brain that releases the pleasure chemical dopamine.

In other words, many of us get pleasure when we give to others and  when we  bond with others. If you’re one of those that is perceived as a big-time giver and sociable, we know about your blood flow to the different parts of your brain. Do you have a chemical imbalance? The reference was found in the August 31-September 1, 2013 edition of the Wall Street Journal.

I’m pleased to announce that Thursday’s guest  on our TV Show “ It Has Nothing to Do with Age or Gender” is  Dr. Don Freeman. Don has a chiropractic practice in Rocklin ,  and hosts  the Trail Runner Nation   podcast. I’m sure you’ll enjoy  what this talented ultra runner has to say about life and running.

Yesterday, Tony, Chris and I ran the trail and came up  Maine Bar for a distance of roughly 7 miles. We started fairly early in the morning and ran without smoke conditions. That makes running much more enjoyable. Keep moving, laughing, smiling and deep breathing because it’s good for you.