Confidence scams have been around since time immemorial.  And while we like to think of ourselves as intelligent and "street smart," we're still quite willing to place our complete trust in total strangers with regards to such cherished items as our time and our money.  Why is that?

In this podcast, we are delighted to once again feature Dr. Paul Zak, the founding Director of the Center for Neuroeconomics Studies at Claremont Graduate University and author of the Moral Molecule blog.  Dr. Zak and I discuss the role of the hormone oxytocin in the development of the human emotions of trust and empathy.  In addition, we talk about how con artists engage The Human Oxytocin Mediated Attachment System (THOMAS) and hijack it for the purposes of meeting their needs at our expense. 

Join us as we delve into the neuroscience of human trust and explain exactly why we are so susceptible to the machinations of these "unconditional nonreciprocators."

What makes one person trust another person?  Why do we get a “gut feeling�? – either good or bad – about another person whom we’ve just met?  And how does trust at a micro level in areas such as business transactions and legal agreements affect the overall economy and market efficiency of a society?

In this program, we speak with Dr. Paul Zak, a Professor at Claremont Graduate University in Southern California and one of the founders of the field of neuroeconomics.

Dr. Zak’s research was the first to identify the role of the neuropeptide oxytocin in mediating trusting behaviors between unacquainted humans in 2004.  In addition to directing the Center for Neuroeconomics Studies at Claremont Graduate University, Dr. Zak has an upcoming book – "Moral Markets: The Critical Role of Values in the Economy" – which will be soon be available through Princeton University Press in 2007.

Join us for a fascinating discussion of neuroeconomics, and how trust and the role of oxytocin affect us at both an individual and a societal level.