Love is the primary human emotion that encompasses feelings of empathy and respect. It can be a powerful motivator to work hard and make sacrifices, for example when you love someone enough to want them to avoid pain or hardship. Love also encourages creativity, as many artists throughout history have portrayed it in their works.
The concept of love has a multitude of meanings and definitions, depending on the individual. In some cultures, it is defined as a feeling of attachment to another person that includes desire and mutual dependency. In others, it is a more abstract idea of giving oneself completely to another, as described in the Bible as “loving your enemies.” A religious or spiritual interpretation of love is often focused on devotion, adoration and commitment to a higher power.
Some scientists believe that love is a basic human emotion, similar to happiness or anger. Other researchers, however, argue that love is not really an emotion at all, but a complex combination of other emotions and drives. This debate over what exactly love is has led to some disagreement about whether it is a biological or cultural phenomenon.
When you fall in love, specific areas of your brain are activated, including the limbic system and reward centres. The release of a jumble of chemicals, including dopamine (pleasure), adrenaline (fight or flight) and noradrenaline (alertness), causes the euphoria that makes your cheeks flush and your heart beat faster. When you start to settle down with your partner, levels of these chemicals are replaced by oxytocin (the ‘cuddle hormone’), which leads to feelings of closeness and intimacy.
You may begin to long for your partner, spend time thinking about them and daydreaming about a future together. These are all signs that you may be in love, according to research published in 2010 in the journal Neurophysiology. Other signs include the development of a sense of loyalty and trust, as well as an increase in the amount of oxytocin released in response to physical touch.
Loving another person can help you to see them as a good, kind and caring person. You may even become more patient and forgiving of their faults. This is because you no longer see them as a threat to your own self-image, but as someone who deserves your respect.
Love can help you to endure and cope with difficult situations. It can motivate you to work through problems, such as financial difficulties, and support your loved ones through hardships. It can also strengthen your immune system, reduce blood pressure and help you live longer. Studies have found that loving people makes you less likely to experience pain and illness, as well as helping you recover more quickly from injury or surgery. Love can even boost your self-esteem and encourage you to be more creative. Poets and writers have penned poems about the joys and struggles of being in love, while artists have depicted this emotional state in paintings, sculptures and thought pieces.