Blaming cogjam entirely on all the adrenalin percolating away would be the easy way out. But adrenalin is not the only ingredient of fight or flight chemistry that is playing a contributing role.

Cogjam is a joint activity, a community-wide line dance that at times leads us directly toward the edge of that infamous cliff. This falls more within the realm of another neurochemical that highlights its presence during high stress: oxytocin.

Oxytocin and Herd Instinct

Here’s what Chapter Five of my upcoming book, The Cogjam Effect – and the Path to Healing Community Divisiveness and Fractured Science” says about this unfortunate case of social bonding gone awry:

“Oxytocin is an ingredient of our neurochemistry that promotes social bonding. Its presence is associated with love relationships, childbirth, and other social attachments. Interestingly, oxytocin is also released during states of high arousal.

When I first learned of this it brought to mind an acronym that turned up on the disaster trail during high-stress assignments: DII, short for “disaster induced infidelity.” I also recall packed neonatal wards in Portland, Oregon area hospitals about nine months after Mt. St. Helens blew. Then, of course, there’s the baby-boomer population that turned up after World War II. Being collectively thrown together for heavy-duty stress appears to strengthen at least one type of social bonding among those who endure it.

But in addition to encouraging attachments to specific individuals, oxytocin promotes bonding within groups. In disaster world, we called the instant joint efforts of workers and community members “disaster bonding.” Similar ties develop in other groups that regularly deal with emergency, combat, and other high-stress positions. The friendships that form in such scenarios may last a lifetime. Continue reading →