A general approach - avoidance hypothesis of Oxytocin: Accounting for social and non-social effects of oxytocin

Background: We critically reexamine extant theory and empirical study of Oxytocin. We question whether OT is, in fact, a ". social neuropeptide" as argued in dominant theories of OT. Method: We critically review human and animal research on the social and non-social effects of Oxytocin, including behavioral, psychophysiological, neurobiological, and neuroimaging studies. Results: We find that extant (social) theories of Oxytocin do not account for well-documented non-social effects of Oxytocin. Furthermore, we find a range of evidence that social and non-social effects of Oxytocin may be mediated by core approach - avoidance motivational processes. Conclusions: We propose a General Approach - Avoidance Hypothesis of Oxytocin (GAAO). We argue that the GAAO may provide a parsimonious account of established social and non-social effects of Oxytocin. We thus re-conceptualize the basic function(s) and mechanism(s) of action of Oxytocin. Finally, we highlight implications of the GAAO for basic and clinical research in humans.