# Cortisol vs oxytocin **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 15, 2011, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cortisol-vs-oxytocin/592758 "2011-08-15T05:13:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![jackdavinci](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackdavinci/32/3259_2.png) [@jackdavinci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackdavinci)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2011, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cortisol-vs-oxytocin/592758/1 "2011-08-15T05:13:07Z")
It seems like we are hardwired to be soothed and socially bonded by oxytocin but stressed out by cortisol. 1. Is there any legal/cheap method to increase the oxytocin quotient in my interactions to make things more peaceful (I’m more than willing to be dosed equally or even be the sole dosee). 2. Is the oxytocin/cortisol dichotomy accurate or is there a better model? ---
**Author:** ![jackdavinci](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackdavinci/32/3259_2.png) [@jackdavinci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackdavinci)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2011, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cortisol-vs-oxytocin/592758/2 "2011-08-15T05:16:43Z")
1a) decrease cortisol. Or rather change the ratio. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2011, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cortisol-vs-oxytocin/592758/3 "2011-08-15T12:08:25Z")
> [@jackdavinci](#): > > It seems like we are hardwired to be soothed and socially bonded by oxytocin but stressed out by cortisol. Cortisol does not cause stress; it is manufactured by the adrenal glands in response to stress.