Love in the Brain
Does brain equal behavior? Some people have argued that they have difficulty saying it does because they find it hard to believe that our individual, tangible brain controls emotions that many consider to be intangible, such as being in love. This paper will discuss the role that the brain actually plays in love- why we are attracted to certain people, why we feel the way we do when we are around them, and whether or not this is enough to say that in the case of love, brain does equal behavior.
The first stage of romantic love begins with attraction. Whether you have been best friends for a long time or you just met the person, you begin your romantic relationship when there is that feeling of
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In addition, an experiment by McClintock showed that women were attracted to the smell of a man who was genetically similar, but not too similar, to their fathers ((1)). Therefore, our genetic information might play a role in whether or not someone is desirable in order to avoid inbreeding or, on the other end of the spectrum, to avoid the loss of desirable gene combinations. Inevitably, however, it is our brain that processes another individual's appearance, lifestyle, how they relate to past individuals we have met, and, possibly, their pheromones. Then, based on this information, we decide, within our brain, whether or not this person is worth getting to know.
Almost immediately thereafter, it is uncontroversial that when someone experiences an attraction for someone else, their brain triggers the release of certain chemicals. These adrenaline-like chemicals include phenylethylamine (PEA) which speeds up the flow of information between nerve cells, dopamine, and norepinephrine (both of which are similar to amphetamines). Dopamine makes you feel good and norepinephrine stimulates the production of adrenaline. Together, these chemicals explain why when we are around someone we are attracted to we feel a "rush" and our heart beats faster ((8)). However, if you have ever been in love, you know that these feelings somewhat subside as you become more comfortable with someone and move from
It was really interesting that the author could pinpoint out these little feelings and describe what exactly happens in our body when we fall in love. Her reasoning she exhibited at certain places did that I was speechless and in other places it made me pensive and a bit skeptical of her reasoning. For many people who are not familiar with the scientific description of love is love a simple strong sensation when you meet the right person. Looking at it with a more scientific eye as Anastasia Toufexis does in The Right Chemistry, will tell you that love is a rather complex biological/chemical phenomenon something evolution has given us. Michael Millis gives the following explanation ''What seems on the surface to be irrational, intoxicated behavior is in fact part of natures's master strategy''1, which began in the African plains 4 years ago. This was according to me the key to human survival and it was here the romantic love started to blossom.Thanks to the fact that humans began walking on two legs and mad the entire body visible to one another developed this unique attraction forces, who developed the love into more than just a single reproductive act. Although assembly mates from behind was, and still is, the method favored by most animals, people began to enjoy face-to-face connections. Both appearance and personal attraction became a much bigger part of the equation.
In his article “Watching New Love as It Sears the Brain,” Benedict Carey expresses that love is not necessarily an emotion but rather a neurological and physical phenomenon. After comparing new love to mania and obsession, Carey offers evidence of romantic love as a neuropsychological event through the description of the caudate nucleus (a specific part of the brain which produces the neurotransmitter dopamine), explaining the cause of desire and passion in relation to love.
The human idea of love is quite possibly the most misunderstood in today’s society. Love can be between a man and woman, mother/father and their kids, or even really good friends. However, these relationships of love go through many interactions and stages to start and progress. Many psychological events must occur and be worked through in order to be successful. All relationships must endure the five perspectives of human behavior. These perspectives are biological, learning, social and cultural, cognitive, and psychodynamic influences.
The human brain contains specific neurochemical systems that create feelings in us. Over many studies, scientists
What role does love play in work and education? In “Uses of Erotic” by Audre Lord and “Brainology” by Carol Dweck both authors explain how love plays in both the workplace and in education. Lord explain that women have been shaped by society and men to oversee the actual definition of erotic and instead change the expression to mean pornography, something that is enjoyable for only men. While Dweck says when two groups of children are praised in a different way, one for their hard work and who are willing to push through everything that is thrown at them, they grow up with a growth mindset, while the other group who was told that they were being praised for the great amount of intelligence that they already had to grow up with a fixed mindset.
Love is said to be the greatest human experience in which mankind are privilege to partake in. To love can be a wondrous experience filling life with bliss and other strong emotions. Some people believe to love is to be alive and be able to see the good in the world and others. The purpose of this paper is to examine and find a better understanding of what is love, to explore what people believe love to be, and what lies surround the perception of love and to explore and expose what the meaning true love is or at the very least the authors understanding of the perception of love. In addition to exploring the concept, deception and the truth of love,
Chemical reactions in the brain are responsible for feelings of love and lust. During periods of lust, both men and women release higher than normal levels of testosterone, and dopamine levels skyrocket in the pleasure center. Norepinephrine, another neurohormone involved, is responsible for that excitatory rush. Within the limbic system, the hypothalamus is accountable for sexual sensations; removal of this structure fully impedes sexual desire and performance. On the other hand, other brain regions and hormones react to love. The hormone, oxytocin, drives feelings of comfort, security, and love. Better known as the "cuddle hormone", the release of this neurotransmitter is amplified with skin-to-skin contact, and even social interactions without
Considering that there are many different levels of realism, I have chosen to focus on Neuromancer by William Gibson and We so Seldom Look on Love by Barbara Gowdy. The stories explore the boundaries of realism by using similar elements. The most obvious one is the margin between life and death, which these two stories address. The main characters separate themselves from society's idealistic realism. Nevertheless, where is their identity placed when living in a different realism? How does one understand the reality of a person with a fragmented mind?
Originally scientist know that pheromones are volatile, odorous substances which are released by one certain species then a significant other from the same species detected it causing some kind of physiological reaction or sexual attraction between this two individuals. This type of interaction is mostly noticeable in insects, animals, and humans. Thus, there is still some scientist have very strong opinion whether we humans actually obtain pheromones. Which makes this topic a subject of heavy interest among our society. But can we really blame pheromones for arousing or triggering a certain attraction from the opposite sex.
Love has many different meanings to different people. For a child, love is what he or she feels for his mommy and daddy. To teenage boy, love is what he should feel for his girlfriend of the moment, only because she says she loves him. But as we get older and "wiser," love becomes more and more confusing. Along with poets and philosophers, people have been trying to answer that age-old question for centuries: What is love?
Love is difficult to define, difficult to measure, and difficult to understand. Love is what great writers write about, great singers sing about, and great philosophers ponder. Love is a powerful emotion, for which there is no wrong definition, for it suits each and every person differently. Whether love is between family, friends, or lovers, it is an overwhelming emotion that can be experienced in many different ways.
As cheesy as it sounds, when you’re together, sparks fly. All your inhibitions fade away. All that remains is the attraction- which is palpable. It’s just you and them alone in this moment; and it’s
Love is a powerful feeling; it makes you do crazy thing. Many people spend years trying to find it, others give up thinking they’ll never find it. Love has been defined as an intensive feeling of a deep romantic or sexual attachment to someone. Of course, Love doesn 't have to romantic and/or sexual. People who are ace, as in asexual, aromantic and agender, can still be in relationships that are satisfying for them without the needs of a romantic relationship. Familial love is also non-romantic-sexual. However, in this paper, we will be talking about romantic-sexual love, what it is, and why I believe it’s so important to understand and experience.
According to said research, vital things to a deep kind of love are physical attraction and a certain level of intimacy, which follow through with companionship that you feel towards the other person.
In Gottfried Von Strassburg’s retelling of the ancient romance, Tristan, love’s portrayal as a psychological disease is considerable. For Rivalin and Blancheflor, Tristan and Isolde, and also King Mark, the affliction causes them to act in a way that they would normally shun. Love changes the perspective on life of those who become intoxicated by its power; whether it’s shared as a couple or entirely unreciprocated, the lust to attain and secure its presence is consuming.