SAEDNEWS: How can science determine if someone is truly in love?
According to SAEDNEWS, scientists have made significant strides in understanding love and have begun defining what it truly means to fall in love. They’ve even identified how love manifests in the brain, showing that the neural activities associated with friendship and romantic love are remarkably different. Research by Helen Fisher, a senior researcher at the Kinsey Institute at Indiana University, along with other experts, has uncovered psychological and physical traits commonly linked to being in love.
Thinking about a romantic partner triggers distinct brain activity that sets romantic love apart from other types of affection.
What Science Says:
Thoughts about your partner activate areas of the brain linked to social cognition. Research in Finland revealed that the most intense brain activity occurs when thinking about one’s children, followed closely by thoughts of a romantic partner.
When people fall in love, they unconsciously believe their partner is one of a kind.
What Science Says:
This perception is rarely found in other social relationships. Even the most ordinary traits or habits of the beloved seem extraordinary and special in the eyes of someone in love.
People in love often idealize their partner, focusing on their positive qualities while overlooking flaws.
What Science Says:
While it’s unclear whether this behavior supports long-term relationship health, Fisher's research indicates that people in love also become hyper-aware of small details or events that remind them of their partner.
Falling in love can cause intense mood swings.
What Science Says:
A 2017 study found that these mood swings can resemble behaviors seen in individuals with substance addiction.
Fisher suggests that love functions like an addiction, but it remains positive only when the love is mutual and healthy.
Research suggests that overcoming challenges in a relationship can intensify romantic attraction.
What Science Says:
When separated from their partner, lovers often experience anxiety. Upon reunion, their dopamine levels spike, creating intense feelings of reward and pleasure.
Delayed dopamine rewards trigger heightened activity in dopamine-producing neurons.
People in love often find themselves constantly thinking about their partner.
What Science Says:
A 2016 study showed that couples in love spend over 85% of their waking hours thinking about their partner.
Love can also disrupt focus and attention, and research suggests it might negatively impact academic performance in students.
Those in love frequently display signs of emotional dependency, including jealousy, possessiveness, and fear of rejection.
What Science Says:
These feelings can persist even after a relationship ends.
A 2010 study in the Journal of Neurophysiology found that brain regions associated with cocaine addiction might explain the obsessive behaviors linked to romantic rejection.
A strong desire for emotional connection, finding ways to grow closer, and dreaming about a shared future are clear indicators of love.
What Science Says:
As a relationship stabilizes, serotonin levels return to normal, while oxytocin production increases.
Oxytocin is closely linked to long-term romantic bonds and marriage.
People in love often experience profound empathy for their partner.
What Science Says:
They feel their partner's emotions deeply, often as if experiencing them themselves, and are ready to make significant sacrifices for their partner’s happiness.
This level of empathy can enhance supportive behaviors, helping reduce emotional distress during difficult times.
Falling in love often leads people to adjust their daily priorities to align with their partner's needs and goals.
What Science Says:
While some individuals might try to mirror their partner's habits and preferences, Fisher's 2013 study suggests that people are often attracted to partners who are significantly different in personality.
Understanding these scientific signs offers valuable insight into the emotional and psychological aspects of love. Whether you’re already in love or questioning your feelings, science provides clear clues to help you interpret your emotions.
