Is It Love?
The science behind lust, attraction, and attachment. And how to keep the romance alive.
Think of the last time you met someone you found attractive. You may have experienced the initial giddiness while you blushed, stammered, said something incredibly foolish. Or you may have graciously turned to walk away only to bump into another person or object right behind you. Think of a time you could not get a person out of your mind: you were anxious, gnawed at the lining of your cheek while you hoped you got one glimpse of that person. Most likely, your heart was thudding in your chest. It’s not surprising that matters of love (and other emotions) were always thought to arise from the heart. In fact, these emotions originate from the brain, which makes the rest of the body go haywire.
According to the anthropologist Dr. Helen Fischer and her team, there are three categories of love: lust, attraction, and attachment. Each of these is marked by its own set of chemicals that control our emotions and the course of action for love.
