The Chemistry of Love

Could you define love in one sentence?
A wonderful biochemical mechanism by which life’s genetic code, and the molecular complexity of our DNA, defeats the 2nd law of thermodynamics (that’s the one which provides a tendency for anything complex and ordered in the universe to fall into pieces and chaos).

Would you say that love can be entirely explained by science, or is too abstract to do so?
Ultimately, everything is clearer through the lens of science, and only scientific explanations hold water. Love is a construct of hormones, neurotransmitters, and various bodily organs including, of course, most importantly the brain, which in itself is relatively poorly understood. Nevertheless, I will attempt to explain love mainly in these terms. However, the works of writers, poets and composers do help us get to grip on this ethereal emotion, so I shall be using their aesthetic power to back up the science of love.

How can Shakespeare’s sonnets be linked to the science of love?
I don’t want to give too much away here, as it will be the central theme of my talk, but…. for me Shakespeare is perhaps the best wordsmith for painting scenarios of love and lust that most accurately reveal all its perspectives; sometimes raw and raunchy, other times gentle and romantic. I believe that his sonnets often mirror a lot of the biochemistry of love that we understand today. For example, in his first seventeen sonnets, Shakespeare’s emphasis is on procreation as a means to continue one’s beauty and youth:

‘From fairest creatures we desire increase,

That thereby beauty’s rose might never die,

But as the riper should by time decease,

His tender heir might bear his memory:’

— Sonnet 1

— which reflects the chemical reality of love as a means to secure the passing on of genes from one generation to the next.

Shakespeare also distinguishes very effectively between love and lust, as does biochemistry:

‘Love’s gentle Spring doth always fresh remain,

Lust’s Winter comes ere Summer half be done.’

— Venus and Adonis

Thus, both science and Shakespeare indicate feelings of lust and desire to be of a temporary nature, whereas a truly loving relationship is governed by different principles/chemicals.

If everyone has a unique genetic make-up, are some more likely to feel love than others?
Yes, I believe this to be very likely. The parts of our brain that control aspects of our character such as loyalty, empathy and faithfulness (all very important to love) have, across any population, varying sensitivities towards important hormones and neurotransmitters that activate them.

Would you consider love a feeling, an act, or both?
I consider love to be a construct of feelings and actions — a highly developed motivational strategy to urge us to reproduce and look after the new holders of the genetic code.

On another level, I also consider love to be jolly nice and generally very useful at keeping life interesting, exciting and worthwhile.

Are we born with a natural ability to feel love, or is it caused more by what influences us as we grow up?
I should think that it is a combination of both. What revs up our excitement, desire, empathy, adoration, etc is a complex concoction of stimuli, some of which will be genetically determined and others a product of our upbringing and culture.

See Michael’s talk, organized by Czech Centre London, on February 16th:

7:30pm — 9 pm (doors open at 7pm)
The Book Club, 100 Leonard Street, London, EC2A 4RH
Admission: £4 in advance, £6 on door
Book online
Facebook event