ENVY AND HORMONES

Oxytocin, known as the "love hormone," can also trigger negative feelings such as envy, jealousy, and malice, according to a study from the Israeli University of Haifa.  The study is based on the premise that this hormone is a trigger for social feelings, because when a person has positive thoughts, oxytocin reinforces positive social behavior; if the thoughts are negative, then the hormone reinforces their negative feelings. Similarly, previous studies have shown that oxytocin reinforced positive feelings. The hormone is released during preparation for childbirth and during sexual intercourse. However, animal experiments show that it can increase aggression. Therefore, the objective of the Israeli study was to investigate its effects on negative social feelings. Half of the 56 participants in the research inhaled synthetic oxytocin, and in a second session received a placebo. In the other half, the procedure was reversed. They then had to play against an opponent who, unbeknownst to them, was a computer, and in which they could win or lose money. Participants who had inhaled the "love hormone" showed more envy when their opponent won more money and more malice when they themselves were successful. At the end of the game, they no longer showed these emotional differences, the researchers noted in the specialized journal "Biological Psychiatry." It is very disturbing to discover that a hormone that promotes love can also trigger base passions.

Regarding other hormones, several experiments have shown that elevated testosterone levels are associated with increased envy. Testosterone is a hormone related to aggression and competition, which can easily explain why people with high levels tend to feel more envy. On the other hand, there is cortisol, a stress hormone that can negatively influence envy. High levels of cortisol are associated with a greater feeling of stress and anxiety, which can intensify feelings of envy. Dopamine, which is primarily a hormone associated with pleasure and reward, can also increase feelings of envy. When we see someone more successful or fortunate, our brain releases dopamine, and this increase affects our sensitivity to the success of others.

So far, we are unaware of any drug that prevents feelings of envy or regulates hormones to control their influence on this human affliction. However, science has suggested several strategies for managing envy, which can be influenced by hormonal factors such as cortisol and dopamine:
1. Practice gratitude: Focusing on the things you are grateful for can help reduce feelings of envy.
2. Develop empathy: Trying to understand and share the feelings of others can lessen envy.
3. Take care of your mental health: Meditation, physical exercise, and a healthy diet can help balance your hormone levels and improve your emotional well-being.
4. Set personal goals: Instead of comparing yourself to others, focus on your own achievements and objectives.
5. Seek social support: Talking to friends and family can provide a different perspective and reduce envy.
As we can see, medicine recommends the same alternatives as psychology, religion, and occupational psychology. It makes perfect sense to follow these strategies and incorporate them into a healthy personal and social environment.

Wrote for Dr. Romero