What hormone is known as the love/bonding hormone that increases during sex and skin-to-skin contact?

Oxytocin is often referred to as the "love hormone" or "bonding hormone" due to its significant role in social bonding, emotional connections, and behaviors associated with love and attachment. This hormone is released during intimate activities, including sexual intercourse and skin-to-skin contact, which helps to foster feelings of intimacy and promote the development of trust and emotional closeness between partners.

When individuals engage in physical touch or sexual activity, oxytocin levels increase, enhancing the feelings of affection and attachment. This is particularly evident during childbirth and breastfeeding, where oxytocin facilitates maternal bonding with the infant. The release of oxytocin also helps reduce stress and promotes a feeling of calmness, further strengthening social bonds.

Understanding the role of oxytocin in human relationships is critical in developmental psychology as it illustrates how biological factors can influence emotional development and interpersonal connections.