THE TRUST MOLECULE

By Paul Zac

Published: The Wall Street Journal; April 27, 2012

http://online.wsj.com

Level of difficulty: ***
http://www.ted.com/talks/paul_zak_trust_morality_and_oxytocin.html 

Video link provided above

BEFORE YOU READ

1.       Why are some of us kind and compassionate and others cruel?

2.       Do you feel the reason is environmental or genetic or a mixture of both?

3.       Read the title of the text. What does it imply?

4.       What would the social implications of a “trust molecule” be?

QUESTIONS

1.       The writer and his colleagues have discovered that such esteemed feelings of generosity, kindness and compassion are determined by …………………………………………………………………….

2.       Read the account of the 2001 experiment carefully and fill in the blanks below to complete the summary of the findings. Firstly, the ………………………. the levels of oxytocin, the ………………….the generosity of the subjects. Secondly, the reaction of the subjects for demands for money could be………………………………………………………………………………………………

3.       What do the following two relative pronouns refer to: “which” in “which is another way of saying…” and “which” in “which, over time, makes other people…”

4.       Under what condition does the above effect of oxytocin not work?

5.       Why exactly is oxytocin compared to a gyroscope?

6.       What conclusion can we draw from the above fact?

7.       Read the account of the experiment at the wedding. Why did the groom not fit the pattern?

8.       What is the implication of this research for society?

9.       What does the fact that many group activities cause the release of oxytocin prove?

10.   Socializing online will lead to higher levels of oxytocin if …………………………………………………………

11.   What example is provided in the text to the seeking of exposure to people outside our own families or cultural and geographic tribes? What positive outcome would such an activity achieve?

12.   How does the writer help boost oxytocin levels in his own small way?

POST READING DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1.       What examples can you think of in our society comparable to the case of Washington D. C.?

2.       Can you think of any instances similar to domestic exchange programs?

3.       In what ways could oxytocin levels be increased in society?

KEY AND TEACHER’S NOTES

This brilliant text provides a chemical explanation for virtues and as such is a completely original topic. Students enjoy science texts and this happens to be one that would interest anyone.

1. Oxytocin.
2. Higher, greater; turned on/off.
3. The person being trusted experiences a surge of oxytocin that makes her less likely to hold back and less likely to cheat; the feeling of being trusted makes the person more trustworthy.
4. If the oxytocin receptors are malfunctioning.
5. Because it helps us to maintain a balance between behavior based on trust and behavior based on wariness and distrust.
6. Oxytocin doesn’t always make us good or generous and trusting.
7. Testosterone can interfere with the release of oxytocin.
8. We could shift behavior towards the expression of oxytocin and thus improve the workings of society.
9. We have created activities that prompt the expression of oxytocin in order to foster connection to others.
10. The online activities complement more substantial personal connections.
11. Domestic student exchange programs; suspicion would fade.
12. He says he is going to give people a hug before they leave.