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Psychologist Yulia Vatutina told how love affects the psyche
24.07.2023 19:46
Love has a tremendous impact on the psyche.
How exactly - it is impossible to say for sure, the data is so contradictory and depends on the individual that it is impossible to make an exact description of the influence of love.
Psychologist-psychotherapist, coach Yulia Vatutina discusses this topic in more detail.
To summarize, we can identify several main consequences, both positive and negative.
- positive emotions: love can evoke positive emotions such as happiness, joy, delight, and satisfaction;
- Reduced stress: The support and presence of a loved one can reduce stress and anxiety levels, helping you cope with life's difficulties and challenges;
- Increased self-esteem: Knowing that you are loved and valued by someone increases your self-confidence and improves your self-esteem;
- Improved mental health: When a person is in a healthy relationship, it can help improve their mental health and reduce the risk of developing depression or other mental disorders;
- emotional attachment: love can help develop a deep emotional bond between partners, which helps them feel more fulfilled and secure.
But there are also negative factors:
- breakup factor: love breakups or loss of a loved one can cause sadness, anger, depression, etc.;
- dependency factor: in some cases, love can lead to excessive emotional dependency, which can negatively affect a person’s mental state and their ability to make decisions independently;
- unrequited love factor: one-sided love can lead to the same consequences as a love breakup.
The influence of love on the psyche depends on the individual characteristics of the person, the nature of the relationship and circumstances.
It is important to find balance in relationships and seek help from professionals if serious emotional or psychological problems arise.
Love Influence: What Psychologists Say
Love has been a subject of study for psychologists for centuries. But in recent decades, such studies have become especially interesting: after all, technical capabilities have appeared that help measure changes in the brain processes of a person in love.
One such study was conducted by American psychologists in 2010. Their essence was to understand the neurobiological mechanisms of romantic love in humans and other mammals.
Scientists wanted to find out which parts of the brain are activated when we fall in love and to identify the biological basis of attachment to a partner. To achieve their goal, the researchers used tomography.
It turns out that when we fall in love, certain parts of the brain become more active. Among these areas, the area responsible for feelings of pleasure and recognition stands out.
Increased activity was also found in other brain regions associated with social perception and evaluation.
These results showed that romantic love has its own distinct neurobiological underpinnings that are likely present in many mammals, including humans.
In another study, psychologists also tried to identify the connection between love and mental health.
The scientists aimed to find out how love influences psychological well-being and to determine whether there is a connection between the nature of the relationship and a person's mental state.
This time, the researchers did not “look into the heads” of the subjects, but limited themselves to studying the consequences of love from the words of the lovers.
They were able to come to several important conclusions. A positive, healthy and supportive relationship with a partner can contribute to a person’s mental health and overall well-being.
This is because feelings of support, understanding and affection provide emotional security and help overcome difficulties.
Such research shows that love is an important and complex part of human psychology that has a profound impact on our behavior and mental state.
But a positive influence can sometimes be replaced by the opposite. Therefore, it is important not to allow strong emotions and not to be embarrassed to contact a specialist.
