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hey there psych2goers before we start we
want to let you know that we're so
grateful for all the love and support
you've given us
we strive to help everyone learn about
psychology in a fun engaging and
digestible way
so let's begin is love the most
important thing we do
in 2015 a 75-year study collected data
on the lives of
268 people researchers wanted to find
the secret to a happier life
and the answer was love love changes you
guides you and destroys you it's
mysterious and powerful in ways science
can hardly explain
to help you understand this
extraordinary feeling here
are 10 psychological facts you may not
have known about love
one love literally
hurts in 2017 taman and ahmad
found that love increases your
perception of pain without
injury or disease love can create and
enhance physical pain
all on its own but how is this possible
anatomically pain and love blend
together in your brain
the areas responsible for pain and love
overlap
so these feelings become entangled
psychologically
the relationship between love and pain
is even more confusing
for example heartbreak can fool you into
feeling pain that doesn't exist
we've felt the pressure and aching of a
broken heart
your heart isn't actually broken love
and pain are simply woven together
two love relieves pain
love can hurt you but love can also heal
you
the same 2017 study found that love can
diminish
mask or numb both physical and emotional
pain
this powerful emotion activates areas of
the prefrontal cortex
which feel comfort safety and intimacy
when these areas of the brain activate
love dulls your pain
almost like a painkiller ultimately love
is a double-edged sword
sometimes it keeps us safe and happy
other times it cuts us up
and cuts us down three
love works quickly how long does it take
to fall in love
most people say somewhere between three
and five months
but your brain falls in love faster than
you think in 1997
aaron and others discovered a shocking
revelation about love in your brain
your brain only needs an hour to fall in
love in rare cases it only needs five
minutes
lasting love requires time to grow and
mature
but that spark can ignite almost
instantly
4. love is addicting in 2010
a neuroimaging study by ortik and others
found many similarities between
love and substance abuse when falling in
love
your brain experiences a blinding
euphoria
that euphoria stems from a cocktail of
neurochemicals
such as dopamine oxytocin and adrenaline
turns out several different drugs
trigger the exact same response in your
brain
not only does the experience mimic drug
use but love is
just as addicting your brain loves to be
in love and it craves love when that
feeling is taken away
that's one of the many reasons why
breakups create stress and raise your
risk of depression
passionate love is like an addiction for
better
or for worse 5.
love likes conflict we've all heard the
phrase opposites attract
but is there any truth to this old adage
being similar is not always a recipe for
love
love needs conflict to survive conflict
creates
interest passion and curiosity it breeds
compromise and allows you to learn from
your partner
not only does this strengthen your
connection but it also keeps your love
on its toes
six love plays fair do you wonder if
your partner is out of your league
love is a universal equalizer in lasting
relationships partners are drawn to
people with an
equal level of social desirability
sometimes two parts are physically equal
other times one is more attractive but
the other is more successful
altruistic or creative this balance is
fundamental to any lasting relationship
if you're worried your partner is too
good for you give yourself a bit more
credit
seven love is universal
people fall in love develop
relationships and search for our soul
mates
but humans aren't the only species
looking for their perfect match
a 2018 study by lamber and others found
that countless species lead lifelong
relationships
swans and wolves find soul mates who
they share their entire lives with
that means love isn't something people
made up it's ingrained within our dna
eight love inspires creativity
love has inspired countless writers and
artists throughout history
but that's no coincidence in a 2009
study
forster and others found that love
actually changes how you think
it opens your mind by stimulating
creative thought
this new way of thinking shapes the way
you analyze and process both emotions
and experiences so art forms like
writing
and painting become ideal mediums to
express those new and
complicated feelings 9. love relieves
stress
after a long day one act of love can
transform your mood
studies have shown that small
interactions with a loved one can
significantly reduce stress
something as simple as holding your
partner's hand can unravel a week's
worth of tension
the power of physical touch gets
stronger the longer you and your partner
are together
that person becomes a beacon of safety
and comfort in your life
that's why a small touch can melt away
all of your stress
and 10. love plays tricks on you
how do you feel after a breakup
sometimes the absence of love creates an
even stronger attraction
this surprisingly common experience
stems from envy
nostalgia and idealization in other
words
you want something only because it's
gone in those moments your brain pulls a
veil over your eyes
you feel like you're still in love even
if you know
deep down it isn't real have you
experienced love in your life
has love helped hurt or confused you in
strange ways
tell us about your experiences in the
comments section below don't forget to
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and as always thanks for watching