Table of contents:
- Falling in love is a biological process that is heavily influenced by hormones
- Why is falling in love stupid?
- Falling in love is an instinct for survival
When you fall in love, you can't stop thinking about your lover. Sometimes people also want to do anything for their love. Because of this, people say that love can make you stupid or crazy. The term is often associated with a love affair. Is it true that term? Here's the explanation.
Falling in love is a biological process that is heavily influenced by hormones
People who are in love may have difficulty performing common cognitive tasks such as multitasking and problem solving. This is because they have spent most of their energy thinking about someone they love.
When you fall in love, the hormones in your body make you experience three things at once, namely euphoria (overwhelming happiness), being threatened, and exhaustion. The research team from the University of Pisa found that in the early stages of a relationship, the activity of the nerve transmitters adrenaline, dopamine, oxytocin, norepinephrine, and phenylethylamine (PEA - natural amphetamine) mixes and increases when two people are attracted to each other. As a result, the part of the brain that regulates emotions becomes overwhelmed.
Uniquely, during this euphoric phase, the relaxing effect you get from the hormone serotonin will decrease, replaced by obsession with your partner and consistently. This PEA is also the one that has a part in making your heart flutter until you feel gasping, trembling, and a very, very strong desire to unite with your lover.
Why is falling in love stupid?
Research reveals the reasons why people fall in love can act irrationally (beyond common sense) or appear stupid. This research was conducted by performing an MRI scan (Magnetic Resonance Imaging). Researchers then mapped the chemical changes that occurred and observed the active part of the brain stopped working for days when someone was romantically drunk. More than that, the researchers also discovered why it all makes someone who is in love always nervous.
The frontal cortex is the part of the brain that is responsible for making decisions and assessing something or someone. Unfortunately, when you fall in love, the activity of the frontal cortex is rested by the brain. According to research conducted at University College London, there are many parts of the brain that are active when you are romantically drunk. However, this large area of the brain stops working, even though it is important in judging certain things.
Researchers believe the shutdown of the frontal cortex occurs for biological purposes, such as facilitating reproductive issues. That is why it is difficult for people in love to see the faults or flaws of their lover. Scan the brain also shows that the areas that regulate various negative emotions are not working either. This is what makes people who fall in love will always look happy.
Falling in love also makes the dopamine hormone increase sharply. Dopamine itself is the key to someone enjoying pain and gratification at the same time. This hormone is associated with arousal, addiction, euphoria, and unyielding traits when pursuing love. Meanwhile, increased dopamine also affects the production of serotonin, a hormone that improves mood and appetite.
High levels of serotonin are also common in people with obsessive-compulsive disorder. That's why love makes you anxious and nervous. While the feeling of pounding and cold sweat is caused by the hormone adrenaline. Other hormones that are released when you fall in love are the same as when you are scared. This means that love can make you both happy and afraid.
Falling in love is an instinct for survival
From the explanation above, you may be wondering, why does love have such an impact on the human body? The simple answer is that falling in love is a human biological instinct for this species to survive through reproduction.
Just imagine if love didn't make someone so obsessed and willing to do everything. Nobody wants to bother falling in love, building a family, then reproducing (bearing children). If this happens, over time the human species may become extinct. Therefore, the human brain is biologically prepared to fall in love and maintain the existence of its species. Even if that means love can be stupid for a while.
However, love does not always lead to reproduction. In many cases, love exists only to fulfill one's emotional needs. In other cases, for example parental love for a child, love is essential to ensure the child survives. That's why parents can love their children so much that they are willing to do anything for their sons and daughters, without expecting anything in return.
