By Natalie Prestegaard
While it may feel as though people hold all control over their feelings and emotions, particularly when it comes to falling in love, Dr. Emily Sportsman, Pioneer’s school psychologist, says there’s more to it. “There’s a whole chemistry to love, all of our thoughts and feelings have a chemical element to them,” she said.
Dopamine is a neurotransmitter, and is released when feeling love for someone or something. Dopamine is an incredibly powerful chemical. Dopamine deficiency can contribute to mental illnesses, Dr. Sportsman says, because “sometimes there can not be enough dopamine,” which can make illnesses like depression, worse. More positively, Dr. Sportsman adds that, “dopamine is just generally the pleasure chemical,” which is released, “during all sorts of things that provide happiness and pleasure, such as eating your favorite food.”
Jodi Bullinger, Pioneer’s psychology teacher, adds that when dopamine is released in romantic settings, such as through hugs, cuddling, and kissing, it is very powerful. “We get dopamine when it’s romance specific, and that feels really good,” she said.
Oxytocin is another chemical released in the brain, which Dr. Sportsman says is “associated with attachment.” These chemical reactions are primal and go back to an evolutionary standpoint.
“Oxytocin is something that mothers giving birth release…and helps to bond a mother and child,” said Ms. Bullinger. Along with bonding a mother and child, oxytocin aids in bonding with other people as well. Certain activities, such as hugging and kissing, can release oxytocin, often times building feelings of love for another person whether that is a child or a romantic partner.
At the same time, pheromones play a large part in attraction, and in finding someone to love. These pheromones are unnoticeable in daily life; however, the brain picks up these cues and draws people to others with certain pheromones. “There are things we’re not even aware of, like scent,” said Dr. Sportsman. “You’re attracted to someone who has a different immune system than you, and people can smell it.” From an evolutionary standpoint, this is important as animals and humans are more likely to have healthy offspring with a partner who is genetically different.
According to Healthline.com, there are theories that women generally tend to be attracted to men who are funny. For females in any species, it is “advantageous to partner with someone who is intelligent, and humor tends to correspond with intelligence,” says Ms. Bullinger. However, intelligence is not the only quality men and women look for. “In many cases we tend to be attracted to facial symmetry, but ultimately signs of health,” Bullinger said. This all goes back to evolutionary instincts, which humans and animals have, where the ultimate goal is to produce healthy offspring.
In general men and women have the same instincts when it comes to attraction. Subconsciously, men and women look for similar characteristics. Men may look for partners who are capable of providing and producing healthy children, and women may look for a partner who is reliable and will provide for a baby. Both men and women are looking for partners who are dependable and healthy. “It’s pretty much the same (between the genders),” Dr. Sportsman said.
While we may think physical appearance is the largest part in attraction, there is more hidden instincts that make us fall for a person. “We aren’t necessarily as superficial as we think,” said Ms. Bullinger, with a smile. When overwhelmed with a crush, or even true love, remember: chemistry and natural instincts may be responsible.
Dopamine is a neurotransmitter, and is released when feeling love for someone or something. Dopamine is an incredibly powerful chemical. Dopamine deficiency can contribute to mental illnesses, Dr. Sportsman says, because “sometimes there can not be enough dopamine,” which can make illnesses like depression, worse. More positively, Dr. Sportsman adds that, “dopamine is just generally the pleasure chemical,” which is released, “during all sorts of things that provide happiness and pleasure, such as eating your favorite food.”
Jodi Bullinger, Pioneer’s psychology teacher, adds that when dopamine is released in romantic settings, such as through hugs, cuddling, and kissing, it is very powerful. “We get dopamine when it’s romance specific, and that feels really good,” she said.
Oxytocin is another chemical released in the brain, which Dr. Sportsman says is “associated with attachment.” These chemical reactions are primal and go back to an evolutionary standpoint.
“Oxytocin is something that mothers giving birth release…and helps to bond a mother and child,” said Ms. Bullinger. Along with bonding a mother and child, oxytocin aids in bonding with other people as well. Certain activities, such as hugging and kissing, can release oxytocin, often times building feelings of love for another person whether that is a child or a romantic partner.
At the same time, pheromones play a large part in attraction, and in finding someone to love. These pheromones are unnoticeable in daily life; however, the brain picks up these cues and draws people to others with certain pheromones. “There are things we’re not even aware of, like scent,” said Dr. Sportsman. “You’re attracted to someone who has a different immune system than you, and people can smell it.” From an evolutionary standpoint, this is important as animals and humans are more likely to have healthy offspring with a partner who is genetically different.
According to Healthline.com, there are theories that women generally tend to be attracted to men who are funny. For females in any species, it is “advantageous to partner with someone who is intelligent, and humor tends to correspond with intelligence,” says Ms. Bullinger. However, intelligence is not the only quality men and women look for. “In many cases we tend to be attracted to facial symmetry, but ultimately signs of health,” Bullinger said. This all goes back to evolutionary instincts, which humans and animals have, where the ultimate goal is to produce healthy offspring.
In general men and women have the same instincts when it comes to attraction. Subconsciously, men and women look for similar characteristics. Men may look for partners who are capable of providing and producing healthy children, and women may look for a partner who is reliable and will provide for a baby. Both men and women are looking for partners who are dependable and healthy. “It’s pretty much the same (between the genders),” Dr. Sportsman said.
While we may think physical appearance is the largest part in attraction, there is more hidden instincts that make us fall for a person. “We aren’t necessarily as superficial as we think,” said Ms. Bullinger, with a smile. When overwhelmed with a crush, or even true love, remember: chemistry and natural instincts may be responsible.