We all need love in our lives. Who hasn’t heard “love will set you free”? Without love, life often has no meaning. In fact, some studies have shown that love is all that matters. We spend our entire life searching for that perfect love. Some find it, some sadly, do not.
We understand the poetry of our heart, but what else is there to know about love? Some of these facts will amaze you, as you probably haven’t been aware of them. These are all proven facts, with scientific backup.
Monogamous relationship exist among animals as well
Some of the animals that find a love that lasts a lifetime are black vultures, gibbons, albatrosses, wolves, and swans. Of course, we all know about the swan, and how they give us some of the most romantic pictures. But wolves, who would think they find a mate for a lifetime? We mostly think of the animal kingdom as a polygamous kingdom, but there are monogamous animals as well.
Your heart rate synchronize
There have been studies trying to explain what happens when two lovers are beside each other. A study has found out that when the lovers gaze at each other’s eyes, their heart rate synchronizes. Now that is romance. It takes three minutes of gazing, so that your romantic relationship starts beating as one.
Love or cocaine?
We often say that love is a drug. And it is true in some manner. In fact, scientists have found out that falling in love has similar neurological effects as taking cocaine. Both experiences affect the brain in a similar way, and trigger a similar sensation of euphoria. Falling in love can stimulate 12 areas of the brain at the same time.
Cuddling for pain relief
When we cuddle with our partner, our body releases oxytocin, a so-called love hormone. Appearing in the brain, testicles, and ovaries, the hormone is involved in the bonding process. Studies have shown that a healthy dose of oxytocin will decrease headaches significantly, and in some cases might even make the pain go away completely. Definitely worth hugging and cuddling with your love one, much better than taking a pain relief pill. In some studies, research has shown that even looking at the picture of the loved one will provide some pain relief.
Heartbreak is real
Most of us have experienced heartbreak at one point in their life. We often say it as a metaphor, for example, “that guy broke my heart”. But it turns out, heartbreak is real. The traumatizing and intense event such as break-up and divorce can cause real physical pain in the area of the heart. Any physical separation from a loved one will cause the effect. The condition is called Broken Heart Syndrome, as deep emotional distress triggers the brain to distribute chemicals that will weaken your heart, leading to strong chest pain.
Thinking of love will improve creativity
Research based on the construal level theory found out that reminders of love and sex influence abstract and creative thinking. The reason is simple, they are associated with more distant and abstract consideration. Reminders of sex trigger concrete thinking, making a person focus more on momentary details.
If you are too similar, you won’t last
The saying goes “opposite attracts”. And that is even more true. Studies have shown that couples that are either too similar or too different tend not to last very long. There has to be a foundation of similarities, but there also have to be things that the two of you learn from each other.
What is perfect love?
If you want to know what is the recipe for perfect love, there is one. And it doesn’t take a mathematician to break it down. Called the triangular theory of love, the formula suggests ingredients like attachment, caring, and intimacy for perfect love. In addition, the theory suggests there are three kinds of love. Romantic love is composed of passion and intimacy, companionate love is composed of intimacy and commitment, while fatuous love is composed of commitment and passion.
Romantic love doesn’t last forever
If you’ve ever been in a romantic relationship, you know that the two of you are different a year later. And there is a reason for it. According to science, romantic love, which is linked with dependence, euphoria, butterflies, and similar, lasts only for about a year. After the first year, your love develops into “committed love”.
Butterflies are real
We’ve all heard the saying “having butterflies in the stomach”. And they are real, and caused by adrenaline. When you fall in love, adrenaline floods your body during flight or fight response situations.
