What Is Love, According to Science

What’s love got to do with it? Apparently, a lot! Falling in love or being in love with someone can stir up a lot of emotions and leave you feeling some kind of way. Whether you’ve been with bae forever or a new boo is making you feel like you’re floating, being in love can trigger a lot of feelings. Here are 10 facts about what happens when you’re feeling loved up.

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Hang on tight

Next time your significant other goes to hold your hand, hang on tight! Research shows that couples in long term relationships can feel relieved and less anxious in stressful times (hello, 2020…) just by holding each other’s hands.

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When it just feels right

There may be something to that “we just clicked” feeling when you meet the right person. Studies show that it only takes about 4 minutes to decide whether you’re into someone or not. So, there may be something to the phrase “love at first sight” after all.

Emojis showing heart eyes and feeling all the love

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Eyes are the windows to the…heart?

When two people who are in love stare into each other’s eyes for an extended period of time, their heart rates sync up, according to research out of the University of California. Cue the beating heart emoji!

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Judgy pants are off

Maybe they use air quotes wrong. Maybe they chew with their mouth open. Those little things can seem downright cute when you’re loved up. According to Helen Fisher, a Biological Anthropologist and Senior Research Fellow at the Kinsey Institute, That loving feeling can temporarily subdue the natural instinct to make judgment calls about social behaviours. This allows you to see things that you would otherwise find annoying as super adorable.

A sign with a Winnie the Pooh quote saying

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Long-distance loving

Within our current world of roving lockdowns and quarantines, loving at a distance can sometimes feel a little lonely. But maybe all this long-distance love isn’t so bad. Research shows that couples in these types of relationships can be just as happy and form the same successful connections as those who are in close proximity. In fact, the space between them actually helps to build more trust and long-term satisfaction.

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A boost of inspiration

Being in love can make you want to live your best life. Love can trigger the part of the brain that is in charge of our sense of purpose, helping others and being more empathetic, says a 2014 study out of Germany.

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A rush of adrenaline

Those butterflies in your stomach are real! When you’re smitten with someone, it causes adrenaline to rush the body causing that fluttery feeling.

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It’s…complicated

There’s a good reason so many songs and poems are written about love. It’s a huge topic that can sometimes feel complicated. And that’s because it is! Love is actually an intertwining of 3 different emotions, according to research out of Harvard; lust, attraction and attachment. Each feeling has its own associated hormones, triggering different parts of the brain. So, the next time you’re belting out the ballads and feeling all of the feelings you can, in fact, blame it on love.

Scrabble letters and icon spelling out I love you

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The world’s your oyster

Do you suddenly have an affinity for hot sauce? Did you recently realize how much you love puzzles? You might want to thank your significant other for that! Studies show that people in love are more open to new things and tend to increase the diversity of their interests. These new experiences and activities can also boost self-esteem and feelings of positivity towards yourself. Whether it’s a new sport or needlepoint, embrace it!

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The heart of the matter

A years’ long study that followed participants over decades showed that love trumped materialistic goals, such as wealth and careers. Love was named the leading contributing factor to overall happiness and leading a fulfilling life. Maybe love IS all we need?