When it comes to love, the word can be ambiguous and confusing. It can refer to a wide variety of emotions and experiences, from platonic love to romantic love to familial love. It can also describe feelings of deep affection, attachment, and intimacy.
Whether you’re looking for the person who will be your best friend for life or just someone to share some fun experiences with, you want to find love that is fulfilling and lasting. This requires a commitment and understanding from both sides. It’s not always easy, and sometimes we may fall out of love for reasons like a miscommunication or a different lifestyle. But if you put in the work, you can rebuild and strengthen your relationship with time.
The question of what is love has been debated since the earliest records of human history. Its definition is complex and has shifted over time, but the common thread is that it’s a feeling of mutual affection and a bond of closeness and loyalty. It’s a combination of physical sensations, thoughts, and behaviors that are uniquely individualized to each person.
While there are many forms of love, the most commonly recognized is the romantic love between two people. This can involve a range of feelings, from infatuation and obsession to passion, attachment, and even lust. It’s an intense emotional experience that can cause people to see an idealized version of their partner and often leads to intense mood swings that are similar to those experienced by people with substance use disorders.
Scientists have studied the phenomenon of love and found that it involves a complex interplay of biological, psychological, and social variables. Physiological processes like hormones and brain circuitry are part of the love equation, but so are psychological factors like attraction and emotion, vulnerability, and feelings of trust and safety. Social influences and norms shape our perceptions of love, including the idea that it’s all-encompassing and permanent.
It is possible to fall in love with more than one person at a time, and many people do so. One study showed that 1 in 6 people interviewed reported being attracted and attached to more than one person at the same time. While this is not considered healthy, it’s certainly not unusual.
Proximity or propinquity: A sense of familiarity and closeness is created by spending time together, being near one another physically, or thinking about them. Desirability: A person’s characteristics and personality can be attractive or unattractive, depending on the individual’s preferences, standards, and values. Reciprocal liking: Generally, you’re more likely to like someone if they like you back.
Passion, infatuation, and obsession are all hallmarks of being in love, and they can feel consuming. You may notice that you miss them all the time, or can’t stop thinking about them. You may obsess over things they do, or you might change your priorities in order to spend more time with them. You may also become more willing to try new experiences or do things you wouldn’t normally enjoy in order to be with them.