As a species, humans have long been intrigued by the concept of love. It’s a feeling that causes wild mood swings, elicits strong emotions like awe and lust, and is a driving force behind many decisions we make in our lives. It’s also one of the most complex and confusing feelings we experience. Asking “what is love?” will always yield a variety of answers, but there are certain traits that can help us better understand this phenomenon.
It is a deep affection and attachment, with a unique blend of emotions. It encompasses physical sensations, cognitive processes and behavioral expressions, which can make it a difficult emotion to define. Love can change over time, due to life changes or misunderstandings, but it can also deepen and strengthen with consistent effort.
It’s an incredibly intense and focused attention on another person, with the desire to spend more time with them, to make them happy, and to fulfill their needs. It’s often accompanied by strong emotional reactions, such as awe and lust, and intense feelings of attraction, trust, vulnerability and empathy. Love is also a powerful motivator, causing people to give up their independence and prioritize their partner’s happiness over their own.
The definition of love differs between cultures, and even within religions. For example, in Christianity, it is believed that love is a virtue that includes selfless giving and sacrifice. In Hinduism, the philosophy of bhakti (loving devotion) is defined as devotion and service to God or the divine, as well as compassion and mercy towards others.
While scientists have made great strides in understanding what love actually means to the human brain, a precise scientific explanation of love is still lacking. Studies have found that when we fall in love, there are changes in the activity of specific brain cells. However, this doesn’t necessarily explain how these changes are tied to the varying emotions of love.
Researchers have identified three main components that contribute to the feeling of falling in love, according to clinical psychologist Bobbi Wegner. These include attraction, lust, and attachment. Attraction is a feeling of curiosity and interest in someone, lust is a sexual urge, and attachment is an emotional bond between two people. These factors may explain why people who are in love report a greater sense of happiness than those who are not. Those who are in love may also report a greater level of satisfaction with their lives, including their relationships and job or hobbies. Interestingly, those who are in love report being more willing to try new things. This is likely because they want to share the experiences with their loved ones. They also tend to have fewer health problems and less stress than those who are not in love.