If you’ve ever fallen in love, then you know that the feeling is intense. It’s the reason that your palms feel sweaty and you stammer when you run into someone you find attractive. In fact, the heart-pounding may have even gotten you into trouble at one time or another. You might have said something incredibly asinine or you might have tripped spectacularly while trying to saunter away. But why does this happen? Scientists and psychologists still debate the nature of love. Some say it’s a physiological drive, similar to hunger or thirst. Others, like psychologist Enrique Burunat, think it’s a mix of primary emotions.
Some scholars also disagree about whether love is a choice or if it’s a feeling. But most agree that love is a complex emotion that changes over time. It is also influenced by hormones, neurotrophins and pheromones. In a groundbreaking experiment, researchers at Stony Brook University put 37 people who were madly in love into an MRI scanner. They found that when people are in love, their brains show a surge of activity in areas that produce dopamine and oxytocin, the “feel-good” chemicals. These are the same areas that are activated when people experience a rush of euphoria, such as that experienced with cocaine use.
While arguing about the nature of love is fun, the best way to write an essay about love is to provide concrete examples and anecdotes. These can make your essay more interesting and help you to convince your readers. You can also use transitional phrases, such as “Furthermore,” to add coherence to your argument and ensure smooth flow between paragraphs. Vivid imagery can also be an effective strategy to capture the reader’s attention and evoke strong emotions.