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Intimacy, which describes feelings of closeness, connectedness, and bondedness.This model divides love into three components: While there is no singular model to contain the complexity of love, many psychologists cite the Triangular Theory of Love, originally proposed by psychologist Robert Sternberg. Love is a complex experience and can be broken down into many components. While we can’t assess your feelings for you, the following five facts about love can help you reflect on your feelings and decide how to proceed in your relationship. Ultimately, it’s up to you to decide whether your feelings amount to love, lust, or something entirely different. What Psychologists Know About Real Love: Facts To Considerīeyond the psychological and physical explanations of love, how do you define real love on your own terms? In successful long-term relationships, physical intimacy remains important for many couples, but physical attractiveness tends to be less important than in those initial, heart-racing encounters. These physiological responses can be attributed to chemicals in the brain: most notably, oxytocin, phenethylamine, and dopamine, which make us alert, excited, and eager to bond.Īs you become more comfortable and familiar with your lover, however, the intensity of these responses may mellow over time. Physically, you may feel an increase in your energy levels, sweaty palms, lightheadedness, a racing heart, and positive feelings when you’re falling in love with someone. These feelings are often deeply pleasurable, and make lovers feel devoted to each other’s well-being and sensitive to their reactions, feelings, and needs. According to the American Psychological Association (APA), love involves strong feelings of affection and tenderness for someone or something.
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