26 Facts about Love - mental_floss List Show Ep. 406

TL;DR

Love has scientific and genetic influences, including eye contact, romantic comedies, genetic compatibility, and pain reduction when in love.

Transcript

hi I'm Adrien welcome to the salon this is Mental Floss video and did you know that I contact influences love in one 1989 study researchers divided 72 undergraduates into male female pairs then had them stare into each other's eyes for two minutes after those two minutes they experienced an increase in love and affection for the other student this ... Read More

Key Insights

• 😍 Eye contact can enhance feelings of love and affection.
• 👀 Watching romantic comedies can reduce the likelihood of divorce.
• 🖐️ Genetic compatibility plays a role in mate selection.
• 🔑 Newlyweds' ability to identify negative words about their spouse can indicate marital satisfaction.
• 🧔‍♀️ Both men and women speak in a lower voice when attracted to someone.
• 🥰 Love has chemical similarities to obsessive-compulsive disorder.
• 🤙 There's a disorder called relationship obsessive-compulsive disorder (ROCD).
• 🥰 Love and cocaine involve a release of dopamine in the brain.
• 😘 Saliva shared during kissing may have evolutionary significance.

Questions & Answers

Q: Do romantic comedies make young people unrealistic about relationships?

No, a study found that undergraduates who frequently watched romantic comedies were not more likely to believe in soulmates or love at first sight.

Q: Does love at first sight involve genetics?

It is possible, as animals can choose mates based on genetic compatibility, and some scientists believe humans do the same.

Q: Can a computer test predict the success of a marriage?

Yes, a study showed that newlyweds who were faster at identifying negative words in relation to their spouse experienced more marital dissatisfaction.

Q: Do both men and women speak in a lower voice when attracted to someone?

Yes, studies have shown that both straight men and women tend to speak in a lower voice when speaking to an attractive member of the opposite sex.

Q: Does love have any similarities to obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)?

Yes, an experiment found that individuals who recently fell in love and those with OCD had lower serotonin levels in their blood compared to a control group.

Q: Is there a disorder related to being obsessed with relationships?

Yes, relationship obsessive-compulsive disorder (ROCD) involves being overly enamored with relationships and spending excessive time wondering if a partner is "the one."

Q: Is there a physical similarity between being in love and taking cocaine?

Yes, both falling in love and taking cocaine release dopamine in the brain, leading to similar effects.

Q: Can the act of kissing have evolutionary significance?

Some scientists believe that saliva, containing testosterone, is shared during open-mouth kisses as a way to stimulate a woman's sex drive.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Eye contact can increase feelings of love and affection in a study with undergraduates.

• Watching romantic comedies and discussing them can reduce the divorce and separation rate among newlywed couples.

• Genetics play a role in love, with animals and humans choosing mates based on genetic compatibility.