The Neuroscience of Corporate Goodness and Employee Engagement
The “hug drug” may be the key to changing the world for the better
Anthropologists tell us that humanity’s secret to success as a species has been our ability to collaborate and cooperate to ensure the survival of the family, the tribe, the nation or whatever group we are closely affiliated with. Contrary to what many would have us believe, we’ve evolved to cooperate, not compete. In other words, we’re hardwired to help others.
Recent studies in the areas of behavioral science, behavioral economics and neuroscience chalk a lot of this up to a powerful hormone called oxytocin, playfully known as the “hug drug” or the “moral molecule”. Oxytocin was discovered in 1906 and is commonly associated with the biological processes involved in childbirth. It has long been thought to play a pivotal role in the bonding of mothers and children, and is often associated with feelings of tranquility, serenity or inner peace.
