So, what is this ‘craziness’ all about?
The Chemistry of Love
The anthropologist Dr. Helen Fisher, best known as an expert on romantic love, stirred the world with her book Why We Love. She distinguished three primary drives for reproduction: the sex drive, romantic love, and long-term attachment. She also stressed that the basic brain system related to romantic love is much stronger than the sex drive and even stronger than the will to live.”
In her video ’The Brain in Love’, she explains how our senses, in particular our sight, instigate the release of chemicals that turns us into an infatuated being eager to love and bond.
According to her research romantic love (eros) has three categories: lust, attraction, and attachment. Each category is characterized by its own set of hormones.
- Lust – Testosterone, and Estrogen;
- Attraction – Dopamine, Norepinephrine, Serotonin;
- Attachment – Oxytocin, Vasopressin.
Let’s get a basic perception of all these hormones -
Hormones encouraging lust
Estrogen - hormones important for sexual and reproductive development, mainly in women. The term "estrogen" refers to a group of hormones including:
- Estrone - a steroid and minor female sex hormone biosynthesized from cholesterol;
- Estradiol - the most important hormone during a female’s reproductive years, required for reproductive and sexual function as well as having an impact on the health of other organs and tissues.
- Estriol - a steroid and minor female sex hormone. Although weaker than the other two, it is produced in the most measurable amounts during pregnancy.
Hormones encouraging attraction
Norepinephrine - also called noradrenaline or noradrenalin, is a neurotransmitter released from the sympathetic nervous system in response to stress. It triggers a response that is commonly referred to as the 'fight, flee, or fall response.'
Serotonin - a monoamine neurotransmitter that impacts every part of the body, from emotions to motor skills. It is considered a natural mood stabilizer that helps with sleeping, eating, and digesting. Serotonin regulates depression, anxiety, heals wounds, and maintains bone health.
Hormones encouraging attachment
Vasopressin – also named antidiuretic hormone, arginine vasopressin or argipressin, is a hormone synthesized as a peptide prohormone in neurons in the hypothalamus. It plays an important role in social behaviour, sexual motivation, pair bonding, and maternal responses to stress.
Conclusion
Until Tuesday the 23rd, | ShoutOuts |