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Interesting facts about love
The ancient Greeks recognized seven types of love
The ancient Greeks had unique words for seven different types of love. These included:
- Platonic love (Philia)
- Familial love (Storge)
- Universal love (Agape)
- Practical, enduring love (Pragma) often found in long term relationships
- Passionate love (Eros)
- Self-love (Philautia)
- Playful love (Ludus)
"Love" can mean different things in different contexts to different people—these terms capture some of this variation, encompassing the wide range of emotions and connections that make up our well-being.
Wearing wedding rings on the fourth finger traces back to ancient times
The tradition of wearing wedding rings on the fourth finger of the left hand traces back to the ancient Greeks, ancient Romans, and ancient Egyptians, who thought that a vein or nerve in that finger traveled straight to the heart.
Love potions were once popular methods of attracting new love
In past centuries, falling in love was sometimes encouraged by love potions, which were believed to make someone fall in love or experience sexual arousal. For instance, the ancient Greeks often used plants such as satyrion in their love potions to attempt to increase sexual desire in the receiver, hoping to stimulate the same feeling of passion and attraction that we often associate with modern relationships.
People may have different love languages
According to the "five love languages," popularized in the book by Gary Chapman, there may be five different ways that people feel loved and show romantic love. These include:
- Acts of service
- Words of affirmation
- Physical touch
- Quality time
- Gift giving
Each person is said to have a different love language, which could even impact long distance relationships. Finding out your love language may help you express your needs to a partner, providing valuable relationship advice. For some people, having deeper conversations helps them know they are loved, eliciting positive emotions. For others, a long embrace or even love at first sight may be ideal. Learning your partner's love language may help you understand what makes them feel most cared for. These psychological facts can help you foster a secure attachment pattern in your relationship.
Love can improve your physical and mental health
Much can be learned from psychological facts about love. Research shows that falling in love can be beneficial for physical and mental health, including improving mood, reducing stress, mitigating anxiety, and increasing longevity. Love hormone, such as oxytocin, plays a significant role in these positive effects. Research from Stanford University School has also shown that men in monogamous relationships or with a loved one are less likely to die from a heart attack, potentially due to lowered blood pressure, than those who live in prolonged isolation. Embracing the lovers gaze and connection can help alleviate intense emotional stress, further promoting well-being.
Animals often form monogamous relationships
Many animals form monogamous relationships, including around 90% of the world's bird species, and some even mate for life. A few animals that mate for life in the animal kingdom include:
- Bald eagles
- Gibbons
- Beavers
- Gray wolves
- Sandhill cranes
Eye contact may cause couples' heartbeats to sync
When you fall in love and stare into your partner's eyes, it may cause your heartbeat to sync with theirs, even at first sight. A series of studies found that couples sitting across from each other could get their heart rate in sync, possibly because their chemical makeup compliments one another. However, when the two individuals sitting across from each other were not from the same couple or were strangers in an online dating scenario, "their hearts did not show synchrony." This fascinating phenomenon highlights the unique connections that can form in romantic relationships.
Committed relationships can help alleviate chronic pain
Studies show that your brain's reward pathway is stimulated in a healthy relationship, which can relieve pain.
Although love may not cure chronic pain or physical illness, it may offer some relief.
Broken heart syndrome is a real medical condition
Also called stress cardiomyopathy, broken heart syndrome can occur when a person experiences a sudden, highly stressful event, with symptoms that mimic those of a heart attack. The condition is usually temporary and reversible, though death has happened in about 1% of cases. This condition is not necessarily related to the symptoms of sadness and loneliness that accompany a broken heart following a breakup or divorce – but can happen in severe cases.
Marriage may improve behavior
Studies have found that those who tie the knot may eat better, maintain healthier lifestyles, and even take fewer risks than single people on average. These improved behaviors might offer some explanation for the possible link between marriage and better health.
Online dating may help you meet your future partner
If you are wondering if an online dating app is an effective way to meet your future partner, and find true love, the answer seems to be yes for many people. A study of U.S. adults by the Pew Research Center found that 12% of the respondents said they had married or been in a committed relationship with someone they first met through an online dating site or app.
Love may have evolved over time
According to some researchers, love is not a recent thing, but rather a “complex suite of adaptions” that have evolved over time to address the challenges of survival and reproduction.
Scent may impact attraction
Research shows that scent may affect how we perceive others, including their attractiveness, as it can calm the fear centers of the brain. Certain scents may be perceived as more attractive than others, possibly due to an instinctive response that associates specific scents with potential partners or positive experiences.
Humans may be attracted to similarities
While the idea that “opposites attract” is thrown around a lot in the context of relationships, some research has shown that many people are more attracted to those who are similar to themselves.
There may be three components to love
According to the triangular theory of love, there are three different components of love that can interact with each other in a relationship, and when taken in combination, they can create different kinds of love. These three components are intimacy, commitment, and passion.
The longest marriage lasted more than 80 years
According to Guinness World Records, the longest marriage ever belongs to Herbert and Zelmyra Fisher, who were married for 86 years and 290 days.
Navigating love with online therapy
In such cases, talking to an individual or couples therapist could help. Studies show that couples therapy “positively impacts 70% of couples receiving treatment,” and online therapy has been shown to be similarly effective as in-person therapy.
Talking about love and relationships can feel very personal and vulnerable, so some people may prefer to dive into such discussions from the comfort of their own home. With online therapy sites like BetterHelp for individuals or Regain for couples, you can connect with a counselor from wherever you feel most at ease—including from home.
Takeaway
Love can be both fascinating and complex. If you’re navigating the complexities of love in your own life and looking for support—whether to learn more about healthy relationship skills, manage challenges in your relationship, heal from a breakup, or any other such concerns—online therapy may be able to help.
What are some psychological facts about love?
Love is a complex emotion influenced by biological, psychological, and social factors. Although it is presented differently between individuals, some aspects of love may apply more universally than others:
- Humans might be more attracted to people with whom they have similarities.
- Love can be good for your mental health.
- According to a study by the Pew Research Center, most adults think premarital sex is okay, but sex on the first date is not.
- When we have a breakup or are otherwise separated from someone we love (like in long-distance relationships), we can experience withdrawal symptoms. This is because the regions of the brain responsible for feeling love and attachment overlap with those involved in addiction.
- Some people with idealized expectations of a first kiss may have higher satisfaction with their partner in the relationship, regardless of whether the first kiss was as great as they thought it would be.
- Attraction can cause people's heart rates to synchronize.
- Married people or people in long-term loving relationships typically live longer and heal faster from illness.
Is love a fact or a feeling?
Psychologists have differing opinions about whether love is a fact or a feeling. Some theorize it's only a complex physiological mechanism driven by chemical activity in the brain, while others view it as an emotional, event-focused process.
How long does it take to fall in love?
It is difficult to quantify how long it takes to fall in love, and it differs between people, relationships, and circumstances. However, older polls suggest that, on average, it takes men 88 days and women 134 days to fall in love.
Why do we love someone?
Science suggests there isn't one single reason why people love each other; it's usually due to a combination of physical and social conditions including, but not limited to:
- Hormones that contribute to feelings of pleasure, including oxytocin, dopamine, and serotonin, influence how we choose who we love or find attractive
- We're more likely to love another person with whom we have a lot in common
- We're more likely to love another person who reciprocates the feeling
- Cultural norms and values often guide who we love and why
How do I know if I'm in love?
Feelings of love run the gamut from feeling affection for someone to being smitten with them to being "head-over-heels" in love with them. When you're caught up in the whirlwind of emotions associated with developing a relationship, it can be difficult to tell for sure if you're in love. Here are a few signs you might be:
- You think about them all the time
- You want to know everything about them (and vice versa)
- You feel giddy or have "butterflies" when you're around them
- They take priority in your life
- You care about their happiness
- They make you feel good about yourself
- You aren't interested in other people romantically
- Your increased sense of well-being causes a more positive outlook in general
- You begin to mirror their traits
- You include them in your thoughts and plans for the future
Do soulmates exist?
Whether soulmates exist or not seems to be a matter of opinion rather than science. Some people believe in love at first sight and that everyone has a soulmate; it's just a matter of meeting them. Others believe that the concept of soulmate is more process-oriented and that people with a deep, lasting love can become soulmates with time—even if they didn't necessarily feel that way when they began their relationship.
How does real love feel?
Feelings of love—whether romantic love or love for a dear friend—are regulated by a complex interplay of chemical reactions in different areas of the brain. When you experience feelings of love or attraction towards someone, your body releases hormones responsible for feelings of pleasure, bonding, and happiness. These include:
Dopamine
Often referred to as the "feel-good" hormone, dopamine is associated with feelings of pleasure and reward. It is released in response to rewarding or pleasurable experiences, like when we spend time with a loved one or do things we enjoy.
Oxytocin
Often called the "love hormone" or "cuddle hormone," oxytocin is released during physical touch and intimacy. It promotes trust, bonding, and attachment between individuals.
Serotonin
Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that helps regulate mood and feelings of well-being. It is often associated with feelings of happiness and contentment, which can be heightened when you're in love.
In addition, love and attraction can also trigger the release of cortisol and adrenaline—stress hormones that can create excitement and arousal.
How do you know someone loves you?
There are many possible indications that someone loves you, and they typically vary depending on the individual and the nature of your relationship. Here are some common signs:
- They make you a priority: Someone who loves you will make time for you, show interest in your well-being, and support you in your goals and endeavors.
- They show affection: Love is often expressed through physical touch, words of affirmation, and acts of kindness. If someone loves you, they may show affection by hugging you, holding your hand, complimenting you, or doing thoughtful things for you.
- They listen to and support you: Someone who loves you will listen to you attentively, show empathy, and try to understand your thoughts and feelings. They'll be there for you when you need to talk, offer emotional support when you're going through challenging times, and join you in celebrating your successes.
- They are happy to make compromises or sacrifices for you: Love sometimes (but not always) requires putting the other person's needs and well-being before your own. Someone who loves you may go out of their way to help you, make compromises, or accommodate your needs first.
- They respect you: Respect is an essential aspect of love. Someone who loves you will treat you with kindness and consideration and respect your boundaries and autonomy.
- They are honest and open: Love involves trust and honesty. Someone who loves you will be honest with you, communicate openly and transparently, and share their thoughts and feelings.
Why is love a choice?
While feelings of love may come easily in the beginning stages of a relationship, those feelings might go through different levels of change as it progresses. As such, it might require a conscious effort, commitment, and intentionality to keep love alive at some point in the relationship. Sustaining a loving, long-term relationship often requires active decision-making and ongoing investment, making it a matter of choice.
What does a lack of love do to someone?
A lack of love (sometimes called "affection deprivation") can have significant emotional, psychological, and physical effects on an individual. Here are a few ways that a lack of love can impact someone:
It can create feelings of loneliness and isolation
People may feel lonely, isolated, and disconnected from others without love and connection. Loneliness can have adverse effects on mental health and well-being, leading to feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and emptiness.
It can make a person more vulnerable to mental illness
Without the emotional support and comfort love provides, individuals might struggle to cope with stress and life's challenges. These struggles can contribute to (and subsequently result from) mental health conditions like anxiety and depression.
It can lower self-esteem
A lack of love and affirmation from others can lead to self-doubt, feelings of inadequacy, and low self-esteem. Without love and validation from others, individuals may struggle to feel worthy, valued, or lovable.
It can cause problems with establishing and maintaining relationships
Attachment styles formed early in life significantly impact an individual's ability to form healthy and fulfilling relationships in the future. Without a sufficient foundation of love and attachment modeled in past relationships or childhood, individuals might struggle with intimacy, trust, and vulnerability in their relationships.
It can have a negative effect on physical health
Research shows that a lack of social connection and love can adversely affect health. Chronic loneliness and isolation have been linked to increased risk of cardiovascular disease, weakened immune system, and other health problems.
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