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| Drink deep from the cup of oxytocin...
by jph53 at 9/23/2009 7:46:55 AM
I've often wondered what "love" is in terms of how it is generally defined. I know how I feel about it but not very sure how everyone feels about it. Is love something we need and desire or are we evolutionarily predisposed to the feeling?
Most biochemists would state that love or at least the feeling of being in love is a release of oxytocin secreted in the brain resulting in the "switching on" of reward pathways in the brain and causing a feeling of being in love.
Evolution has changed the way we think about love/commitment/monogamy with respect to the development of a "commitment device" or a natural instinct to protect our offspring and develop loyalty to a mate. It is intrinsic to humans to develop love through a series of connections or attachments with other human beings from infancy to adulthood.
My feelings about the whole thing is that we are creatures of manifest desire being felt differently depending on the person and their life situation which would suggest how and what people love as choice rather that evolution.
Holman defines love as the security and trust that begins in infancy with healthy attachments and progresses into a mature love as an adult, one that entails friendship, sharing and fulfillment of needs both physical and emotional. I think I agree. If I'm wrong...quit Bogarting the oxytocin.
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