Love has been the subject of songs, poems and novels throughout history. It’s also the topic of intense debate among philosophers, scientists and writers. While most people would agree that love involves strong feelings of affection, there is considerable disagreement about what exactly it means. Often, people use the word to refer to a range of different kinds of relationships, including romantic, platonic and familial. Love can also be felt for non-human animals, political movements or religious beliefs.
The concept of love is complex, and it can vary from person to person and from culture to culture. It has been defined in many different ways, including as a feeling of deep attachment and loyalty, as a powerful urge to protect and care for another person, as an emotion that motivates us to sacrifice ourselves for the other, and as a combination of all of these things.
It is also widely accepted that the feelings of love can be accompanied by physical and emotional changes in the body, such as increased energy, a loss of appetite, sleeplessness, trembling, a racing heart and accelerated breathing. It is also common for those in love to feel euphoria and a sense of well-being, as well as anxiety and depression when their relationship experiences challenges.
According to research, most people believe that the first rush of love is primarily an emotional experience that leads to a rapid increase in attachment. This is followed by a period of heightened empathy, which can lead to the tendency to see one’s partner’s pain as their own. Empathy can also prompt a desire to support one’s partner by offering them physical and emotional help.
This combination of emotional and physical responses is usually considered to be the primary evidence that someone is in love. Other signs can include daydreaming about the other person, imagining their futures with them and spending more time with them than usual. People in love are generally eager to spend time with their partners and will sometimes go out of their way to do so, even if they don’t necessarily enjoy the activity.
It is also common for those in love to develop a strong admiration for their partner, which can extend beyond their appearance and into their personality, thoughts and emotions. This may be reflected in the way that they treat their partner, or in the way that they talk about their loved one to others. People in love may also be more willing to try new activities or foods that their partner likes, and they will frequently make sacrifices for the benefit of their partner. The Conversation AU is funded by Deakin University.