Love can have a wide range of meanings and is often seen as a complex emotional experience. It has many forms and can be found in relationships between friends, family members, partners, spouses, children and pets as well as within religious and spiritual communities. These diverse expressions of love contribute to emotional and psychological health, fostering resilience and a sense of well-being.
Despite its wide-ranging definitions and complexities, scientists generally agree that love is an emotional state characterized by the presence of both attachment and passion (Carter CS, et al., 2022). It is also a complex process that involves cognitive and behavioral elements.
People in love often feel a combination of feelings, including excitement, attraction, attachment, joy and affection. These feelings are caused by chemical reactions in the brain and can vary between different people and types of relationships. For example, romantic love feels different than the love of a friend or the love of a pet.
Biological models of love consider it a mammalian drive, similar to hunger or thirst. Psychologists, on the other hand, think of it as more of a cultural phenomenon that is driven by hormones like oxytocin and neurotrophins, and influenced by a person’s conception of love.
When writing a love story, remember that it isn’t always about “happily ever after.” Write about the obstacles the couple must overcome, the hopelessness, fear, disappointment, betrayal and jealousy they might face. It is important to depict these emotions as accurately as possible to make the readers feel what they are feeling.