oxytocin Archives - PARENTING SCIENCE

How do children respond to a mother’s voice?

August 17, 2021

fascinated baby watches mother talking on phone

© 2021 Gwen Dewar, Ph.D., all rights reserved A mother’s voice has special power. It can provide comfort — and improve outcomes — for babies hospitalized in the NICU. It can shape the way infants process language in the brain. And it can help children cope with pain and stress. What happens when a baby … Continue reading

Oxytocin affects social bonds and our responses to toxic stress. Can we influence oxytocin in children?

May 2, 2022January 1, 2019

© 2019 Gwen Dewar, Ph.D., all rights reserved Oxytocin is often called the “hormone of attachment” because it seems to help individuals bond with other members of their in-group. A surge of oxytocin makes us feel more trusting and generous toward our social partners (e.g., Baumgartner et al 2008; Zak et al 2007). It encourages … Continue reading