Attachment, aggression and affiliation: The role of oxytocin in female social behaviour

Campbell, A.

doi:10.1016/j.biopsycho.2007.09.001

Attachment, aggression and affiliation: The role of oxytocin in female social behaviour

Campbell, A.

Authors

A. Campbell

Abstract

The peptide hormones oxytocin and vasopressin have been implicated in a range of mammalian social behaviors including maternal care, pair bonding and affiliation. Oxytocin is of special relevance to female behavior because its effects are strongly modulated by estrogen. This article reviews animal and human research and is organised in terms of two research perspectives. The specific attachment model identifies oxytocin as orchestrating special bonds with offspring and mates, including the use of aggression in the protection of these relationships. The trait affiliation model considers oxytocin in relation to the trait of general social motivation that varies between and within species. Implications for understanding and researching the role of oxytocin in women's attachment, affiliation and aggression are discussed.

Citation

Campbell, A. (2008). Attachment, aggression and affiliation: The role of oxytocin in female social behaviour. Biological Psychology, 77(1), 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsycho.2007.09.001

Journal Article Type	Article
Publication Date	Jan 1, 2008
Deposit Date	Jan 26, 2012
Publicly Available Date	Aug 3, 2015
Journal	Biological Psychology
Print ISSN	0301-0511
Publisher	Elsevier
Peer Reviewed	Peer Reviewed
Volume	77
Issue	1
Pages	1-10
DOI	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsycho.2007.09.001
Keywords	Oxytocin, Female, Women, Aggression, Affiliation, Attachment.

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Copyright Statement
NOTICE: this is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in Biological Psychology. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in Biological Psychology, 77, 1, January 2008, 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2007.09.001.