For millennia philosophers, prophets and poets have contemplated the nature of love. However, only recently have scientists begun to feel comfortable studying it explicitly.
The conventional view in biology is that love is a mammalian drive, similar to hunger or thirst. This kind of love is influenced by hormones such as oxytocin and neurotrophins, and pheromones like prolactin. But psychologists and researchers don’t all agree on how to describe and understand this emotional experience.
Some scholars define love as a combination of companionate and passionate love, while others separate it into primary and secondary emotions. Still, most researchers agree that love is not a simple feeling. It is complex and often not very pleasant. Often when people fall in love, their behavior changes and they become more willing to do things that don’t necessarily make sense. For example, they might be more willing to go on dates and try new activities that their partner enjoys.
If you’re in this type of love, you may also experience feelings of euphoria and butterflies. These experiences can be short-lived, but they do help you build neural pathways in your brain with the person you’re attracted to.
If you see love as a bond you choose and practice, then it can persist through the disappearance of feelings or even major life changes like a job change. Practicing love means being open and vulnerable, and it also requires enacting certain values and standards.