Materials distributed to high school students said a 20-second hug would make teenagers want to have sex because of ‘the powerful bonding effect of oxytocin’

This article is more than 5 years old

This article is more than 5 years old

A Melbourne Pentecostal mega-church has been forced to apologise after it distributed materials to high school students which warned young women not to hug their peers because it would make them want to have sex.

“If a woman becomes physically close and hugs a guy for 20 seconds it will trigger the bonding process, creating a desire to be near him,” the pamphlet distributed to Fairhills high school students by the CityLife church said. “So girls especially need to be aware of the powerful bonding effect of oxytocin.”

Oxytocin is known as the “feel good” chemical, released by the brain during hugging and other bonding activities. A synthetic form of the hormone is sometimes given to women to stimulate childbirth.

However, the pamphlet also appeared to praise the benefits of oxytocin in maintaining monogamy, warning that its “bonding effect” became less and less powerful with increasing numbers of sexual partners.

“The inability to create this special chemical bond after having multiple sex partners is almost like tape that loses its stickiness after being applied and removed multiple times,” the pamphlet said.

An education department spokesman said it had launched an investigation into the incident, saying the materials were “completely inappropriate” and in breach of department policy.

“The content is totally out of step with department approaches to sexuality and relationships education,” the spokesman said. “The department will investigate how this was able to happen.”

Guardian Australia understands the pamphlet was distributed during a sex education class, and has sought confirmation from the department.

CityLife church’s executive minister, Peter Leigh, said the church cared “a great deal” about young people.

“We apologise, and agree that this material should not have been handed out to students,” he said. “We accept responsibility and a full review of the program and material is under way.”

The school would cooperate fully with the department of education investigation, he said. However, the church declined to answer questions from Guardian Australia about who was responsible for creating the materials or who authorised them.

The acting principal at Fairhills, Russell Poulier, said the church program had been scrapped. “We regret that these materials were distributed to students,” he said.