Oxytocin
The hormone that accompanies closeness, touch and trust — often called the attachment hormone.
What it does
It is released with touch, breastfeeding, sex and safe contact. It lowers the stress response and strengthens a sense of belonging. It isn’t a magic substance, though: it heightens sensitivity to the group you belong to, not kindness in general.
Why it matters
Because it shows that closeness isn’t an indulgence but a bodily need — and that co-regulation is a route that explanation cannot replace.
