The chemistry behind love
The chemistry behind love
As it turns out, the “chemistry” between two people really matters when it comes to picking a mate.
“People rate the body odors of people with MHC genes dissimilar from their own as more attractive,” Haselton says. Also, research shows that children who inherit different MHC from each of their parents have broader immunity.
If it’s all chemical, do we have any control over the process? Researchers say you can trigger your body’s chemistry to keep love alive by:
-Keeping it fresh Novelty drives up dopamine in the brain, which can help sustain romantic love. Go to the movies in a different part of town or head out for the evening without knowing where you’ll end up.
-Keeping in touch Any kind of touching, such as holding hands or playing footsie, can drive up oxytocin. Sometimes called the hormone of love, oxytocin is associated with attachment.
-Keeping it hot Having sex makes you want more sex. If you’ve gotten out of the habit, work on getting back into it -- even if you need to seek professional help.
It certainly worked for Lila Sumin and her husband. She says the chemistry she first felt with her husband has stayed with the couple through the years. “Fifty years later, and I’d choose him all over again.”
The Science Behind Romance
As it turns out, the “chemistry” between two people really matters when it comes to picking a mate.
The science of love continued...
“People rate the body odors of people with MHC genes dissimilar from their own as more attractive,” Haselton says. Also, research shows that children who inherit different MHC from each of their parents have broader immunity.
If it’s all chemical, do we have any control over the process? Researchers say you can trigger your body’s chemistry to keep love alive by:
-Keeping it fresh Novelty drives up dopamine in the brain, which can help sustain romantic love. Go to the movies in a different part of town or head out for the evening without knowing where you’ll end up.
-Keeping in touch Any kind of touching, such as holding hands or playing footsie, can drive up oxytocin. Sometimes called the hormone of love, oxytocin is associated with attachment.
-Keeping it hot Having sex makes you want more sex. If you’ve gotten out of the habit, work on getting back into it -- even if you need to seek professional help.
It certainly worked for Lila Sumin and her husband. She says the chemistry she first felt with her husband has stayed with the couple through the years. “Fifty years later, and I’d choose him all over again.”
