Love is often referred to as an “addiction”. Like any other addiction, there are many behavior patterns that have been evident since the 12th-century. Around the world, people are willing to live, die, or even kill for love. Lovers will often times become obsessed with their beloved. They will also have intense motivation and fixation on this person. They experience a distortment in reality, a change in their priorities as well as their daily habits. These changes are often to please or accommodate the person they love. This also comes with the willingness to sacrifice or even die for that person. This love can invoke a dependance on that person as well as separation anxiety and frustration attraction. In psychological studies, lovers were seen to exhibit craving, tolerance, withdrawal, and relapse, which are the four basic traits of addiction. After a break up, the experiences were similar to those of drug withdrawal. This includes protest, crying, anxiety, insomnia, loss of appetite or binge eating. Lovers will also end up going to extremes to win back their lovers. If this is unsuccessful, certain triggers, (even long after the relationship), such as songs, people, events, places, or other cues associated with their past lover can cause a relapse of memories. Thus, adding love to the list of addictions.
How would you describe love?
Do you believe that this was a valid psychological study? Why or why not.
How do you believe this study helps us to understand the human mind?
