Oxytocin, Bonding & the Trust Myth
Shared intense experiences do build bonds, but the 'oxytocin makes you trust' story behind them failed replication; the bonding works through reciprocity and shared identity, not a hormone switch.
An everyday example
An off-site 'trust fall' weekend leaves a team feeling close; the vendor who organised it closes a contract on Monday without the diligence that would normally happen.
What it can cost you
Confusing felt closeness with warranted trust, and letting an engineered bonding experience shortcut verification.
Warning signs
- I feel I would be betraying the relationship by checking.
- The bonding event was organised by the party asking for the decision.
One thing to do
Enjoy the bond; keep the process. Any decision that would normally need diligence still needs it after the retreat, ideally decided by someone who was not there.
Is this happening to you right now?
Describe your situation and get a read across all six brains. No account needed.
Check my situationRelated
Not medical, legal or financial advice. How Decision IQ works
One decision idea a week
One useful idea. No daily drip, no pressure.