This four-letter word makes the world go round, brings even men and women of power to their knees; it consumes people. Yes, I’m talking about LOVE. It drives people crazy and has them doing things that they would have never done otherwise. When you think of it, you might picture a couple holding hands or kissing; or you might just picture yourself being with the one you love.
Yes, love is all mushy and fuzzy, and makes you feel warm on the inside; but it can get confusing too. But science is here and science has an explanation to all of this. There are many interesting facts about love that none of us probably ever realized, but there are a few things that can be explained. You see, our body releases chemicals that play a role in those strong feelings that we experience when in love. The science behind love isn’t exactly romantic, but it is definitely fascinating.
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Here are some interesting facts about love that science has discovered.
1. Forever is possible
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Yes, it is. Not exactly, but it’s the closest to forever that you can get. The animal kingdom is the evidence to that. There are many animals that find one partner and stick to them for life. Technically, we are part of the animal kingdom, so finding a life partner shouldn’t be that big a deal.
2. Falling in love gives you a ‘high’ similar to cocaine
Oh, yes. You don’t need the drugs anymore if you’ve fallen in love. It gives you the same euphoria that you feel when you take a dose of cocaine. It stimulates 12 areas of the brain, giving you that ‘high’.
3. The urge to love is primitive
It really is. It is your body’s requirement, just like how you need to eat, sleep, and breathe. It releases dopamine into your blood stream, which is a natural stimulant that gives you the feeling of love and ecstasy.
4. Cuddling acts as a painkiller
I’m not kidding. Oxytocin is a chemical that is produced when you embrace/cuddle your lover. A dose of it actually reduces headaches significantly along with any other pain that may be there.
5. Even looking at their picture relieves pain
Distracting someone in pain is difficult, especially if their loved ones aren’t around. What you can do instead is play some word game and show them pictures of their love; the pain will definitely reduce.
6. Holding their hand will also work
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If a couple with a strong connection is stressed or in pain, they can soothe each other by just holding each other’s hand.
7. Four minutes is all you need
Looking to impress someone? You’ve got four minutes to do it. It is believed that your body language, along with the tone and speed of your voice, make all the difference.
8. Your hearts beat together
If you’re gazing away into your lover’s eyes, then your heartbeats do synchronize. That is if you manage to keep the eye contact intact for three minutes.
9. Keeping your new relationship a secret will make the romance better
Yes, you read that right. It keeps the romance at a heightened state simply because you have to hide and indulge in each other. It adds an exciting factor to the relationship.
10. When you look at your lover, your pupils dilate
Your pupils expand during heightened attention and focus, which happens when you look at the one you love; even if it is just a picture or video. Plus, you look nicer with dilated pupils.
11. Couples who are too similar are likely to not last
As it goes – opposites attract. A foundation of similarities is good but to be very alike might not work in your favor. When you’re in love with someone, you need to learn from them and balance each other out. That keeps things going.
12. Heartbreak is real
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Intense and traumatizing events such as a breakup can actually cause you physical pain in your heart. Deep emotional distress causes the release of chemicals that result in chest pains and shortness of breath. The pain is real.
13. Romantic love is followed by committed love
Romantic love apparently lasts only in the first year of your relationship, when your nerve cells are at their peak. The euphoria, dependence, sweaty palms, pangs of nervousness – all of these turn into high levels of neurotrophin that results in commitment.
14. Face or body?
When you’re looking for a fling, you obviously pick the kind of body that you want to be with. But when it comes to commitment, you look at the face, because that’s what you remember when you think of them.
Suggested read: When love wasn’t enough…
15. Expressing gratitude to a loved one makes you happier
It really does. If you thank at least one person in your life, it is going to bring a smile on your face. Go ahead, try thanking your babe and see how happy it makes you.
16. Butterflies in the stomach are a real thing
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When you’re in love with someone, your body reacts to it as a fight or flight situation. Then you get an extra dose of adrenalin which causes all those butterflies in your tummy.
17. Strangers can fall in love
If you’re sitting and conversing with an absolute stranger or an acquaintance, chances are you might fall in love if you maintain a constant eye contact.
18. Attachment + Caring + Intimacy = Love
Yes, there is a triangle of love that exists, and according to this theory, if you can be attached, come to care and get intimate with one person constantly, then your love is perfect.
19. You are obsessed with your lover
If you’re in love, you have chemical similarities with a person who has an Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Your levels of serotonin reduce while the cortisol level goes up, which explains why you act out of character when you fall for someone.
20. Same looks?
A study has found a pattern wherein people at the same level of attractiveness are likely to end up together. It’s not true in every case, though some couples start looking similar over time. It just means that you pick someone who is as socially desirable as you. If not, then at least one of you compensates for it.
21. Love does your memory some good
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It has been proven that falling in love calms your body and mind. It increases the nerve growth factor and restores brain cells, thereby improving your memory.
22. Both of you must have adequate testosterone for sexual attraction
It’s true. Both of you need this in your body because it creates desire as well as aggressive behavior that may push you to pursue the one that you’ve fallen in love with.
23. The longer you’ve known someone, the better
If studies are to believed, people end up falling in love with people that they’ve known for a while rather than someone new that they might like.
24. Parents are involved
Believe it or not; we are attracted to people who look/smell similar to one of our parents. We find it comforting if our partner reminds us of our parents in some way. If you’re a woman and, your father and lover use the same cologne, the smell will remind you of your father. Not the way Freud put it.
25. The mother-child bonding is similar to your love
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Oxytocin, the bonding chemical is known to be released during childbirth when the mother nurses her child and also when you have a sexual climax. Both are feelings of love.
26. Love is ‘blind’
Yes; it has been found out that when you look at your newfound love, your brain suppresses the instinct to make critical social judgments. Thus, making you blind to their faults and flaws.
27. Love and sex make you more creative and think deeper
This happens because love is associated with distinct and abstract considerations like commitment and intimacy; while sex triggers concrete thinking that focuses on momentary details.
28. People with high self-esteem have better relationships
Studies have found that people with a high self-esteem, have longer and more successful relationships. So, love yourself.
Suggested read: Losing someone who was never truly mine
29. You might fall in love with someone while you’re in a dangerous situation
If you meet in a dangerous situation instead of a mundane, everyday one, chances are you might fall in love with each other. Want to go sky diving, now?
30. Love is all that matters
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A 75-year-old Harvard study shows that people care only about love At the end of the day, they just want happiness and fulfillment that revolves around their love.
All these interesting facts about love sound pretty amazing, huh? After all, who knew love could be proven scientifically? We obviously don’t think so much when we are falling for someone or are in a relationship with someone; like ‘blame the chemicals’ because we fought. It would be hilarious if someone came up with that! So, keep loving because the world could use more of it regardless of whether it is the chemicals at work, or just you.
Featured image source: Google, copyright-free image under Creative Commons License
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