Love and infatuation are unplanned, mysterious and magical feelings.
Psychologist Irina Izvekova explained what love is.
Everyone knows the expressions that “love comes unexpectedly”, “love is a virus” and that love can radically change our lives.
What Science Thinks About Love
Numerous attempts to study love and falling in love have led to opposite conclusions: from understanding love as an embellished form of the biological instinct of reproduction to recognizing it as a sublime feeling that itself is capable of influencing biology with the help of hormones and neurotransmitters.
Therefore, despite much research, there is still no unified understanding of love, and the question of its origin and essence has not been resolved.
Unromantic but precise biologists view love as a sequence of chemical reactions.
The result of these reactions is the production of love hormones: dopamine, serotonin, adrenaline, endorphin, oxytocin and vasopressin, which affect the functioning of the brain and internal organs.
Moreover, each of the hormones is produced at a certain stage of the development of the relationship, and the choice of a lover is made for us by the nose - by smell we understand as accurately and unconsciously as possible that this partner is suitable for procreation.
How our brain reacts to love
Some parts of the brain become excited and more susceptible to the effects of hormones, while others, on the contrary, become inhibited; this rebalancing forms the special behavior of a person in love.
For example, subcortical areas are activated, where dopamine and oxytocin receptors are located, which are responsible for feelings of pleasure and euphoria.
At the same time, the excitation of the amygdala, which is responsible for fear, anxiety and emotional burnout, decreases.
Areas of the brain associated with social cognition, concentration, and mental self-image are activated.
At the same time, neurons responsible for critical evaluation of other people are suppressed. This is the biological explanation for blindness to the shortcomings of the beloved.
Is it really possible to synthesize love in a test tube?
Not at all. According to researchers, hormones are not triggered all at once, but according to a complex pattern depending on the stage of development of the relationship.
Likewise, parts of the brain are activated and inhibited according to a complex pattern that is launched individually and naturally thanks to triggers of emotional relationships, expectations and hopes.
Human emotions have three components.
- Internal experience at the level of psychology, expectations, needs. Social meanings and values have the greatest influence on this level of experience.
- Weakly regulated physiological processes in the nervous, endocrine, respiratory and other body systems. At this level, our nose chooses for us, remember?
- External non-verbal (without using words) expression of feelings and emotions. For example, in the form of a change in facial expression, trembling, sweaty palms, blushing, laughter, tears. Thanks to external reactions, others perceive us, experience their internal experiences (pp. 1-2) and express them.
That is why chemists are unable to synthesize love in a test tube.
What is love in the quantum world
Unexpectedly, quantum physics comes to the side of the romantics.
From the standpoint of quantum physics, the nature of love can be revealed through the concept of quantum entanglement – a state of a system where, according to some parameters or values, it cannot be divided into completely separate elements.
It is known that quantum communication does not depend on physical distance and time, and a change in the characteristics of one particle can lead to a change in the state of another.
Think of examples of sudden memories or dreams about loved ones that corresponded to real events happening many miles away.
If we accept the quantum entanglement hypothesis, then deep love between people looks like a vivid experience of quantum entanglement.
People feel as if they are one whole and their ability to deeply feel each other is at the highest possible level.
Don't be alarmed by the quantum entanglement hypothesis of love, for this theory may provide a scientific, rather than philosophical, explanation for romantic love and the more common special bond between parents and children, as well as deep connections to specific places on the planet.
Regardless of scientific theories, it is known that sincere love (not to be confused with painful emotional dependence) helps to form reliable connections, can give meaning and purpose to life, helps to feel needed and significant, and people who maintain close supportive relationships for many years get sick less often and live longer.
Love is an amazing phenomenon that changes us and our surroundings. Love is not just a spark, but a powerful catalyst for our inner growth and happiness.
Which hypothesis about the nature of love do you lean towards?
