Oxytocin is a nine amino acid peptide produced in the brain and released by the pituitary glandIt is produced in the body naturally, by both males and females, and plays a role in reproduction and may even contribute to those feelings we call "love."

Recent research has linked oxytocin with the ability to trust othersEvidence suggests that it may even play a major role in a person's ability to take care of others and for avoiding conflict.

It's been demonstrated in animals that oxytocin acting within the brain plays a major role in establishing maternal behavior, as scientists put oxytocin into the ventricles of the brains of virgin rats and non-pregnant sheep, and it rapidly induced maternal behavior.

A team of Japanese and American researchers did a recent study where they genetically engineered mice to not process oxytocinThe result was that the males became more aggressive and the females often forgot to take care of their babiesAdditionally, the males were quicker to attack aggressors and they would fight for a longer period of time than the mice with normal oxytocin production.