Love can be a powerful force in our lives. It can make us feel a sense of purpose, help to boost moods and provide support during tough times. It also makes us want to spend more time with the people we care about and can have a positive impact on our health.

It’s no wonder that the topic of love has inspired countless philosophers, poets and songwriters to take up their pen to explore its many facets. Today, scientists have a much clearer picture of what happens when we experience love and can now answer the question of whether it really is “all in the head.”

One of the most important things that we know is that love changes our brains. Several different areas in the brain become activated when we are in love. These include the ventral tegmental area, which is associated with reward and motivation. These changes in the brain are responsible for the rush of euphoria that we often feel when falling in love. This rush is due to a jumble of chemicals that include dopamine, adrenaline and norepinephrine. This is why your cheeks get flushed, your palms may be sweaty and your heart races when you’re around the person that you love.

At first, these chemicals can make us act irrationally and can lead to obsessive behavior. However, over time, these neurotransmitters can be replaced by oxytocin, which is known as the ‘cuddle hormone’ and is associated with more mature forms of love. Oxytocin can cement bonds, reduce stress levels and raise immune function. This can help to explain why married couples tend to live longer, have fewer strokes and heart attacks and be less depressed.

A growing body of research is demonstrating that when we love and care for others, it can make us happier. In fact, studies have shown that happy people are likely to spend more time with family and friends, find meaning in work or hobbies and have strong connections to community.

When we have a strong sense of belonging, we can overcome challenges that may threaten our self-esteem. We are also more resilient to stress and anxiety. Therefore, it is important to surround ourselves with those who are supportive and encouraging in our times of need.

As a result, some psychologists have argued that love is more than just a feeling and that it can be described as a set of behaviors or activities that we engage in with the people we love. This view of love is similar to the way that some Western scholars disaggregate love into altruistic and narcissistic components. A prominent example is Scott Peck’s work in the field of humanistic psychology, which combines these two perspectives.