Biology, psychology, neuroscience, anthropology, chemistry, art, religion, technology, primatology, scanners, tomographs, saliva, shirts, pets, friends, relatives, children, shakespeare, mysticism, friends … when you investigate love you need to resort to all arrows available. They are never enough, but something reveal to us. This is what Anna Machin does, an evolutionist anthropologist of the Department of Experimental Psychology of the University of Oxford, in the essay what we really know about love (Utet, pages 204, Euro 24; in the bookstore from February 4).
Professor Machin, why a book on love, a theme so explored and at the same time complicated?
«First of all because the study for twenty years: I have learned a lot. And then precisely because it is so complicated … one of my goals is precisely to show how complex it is, in particular human love, which has both biological and cultural components, and why it is at the center of our world “.
Between biology and culture, what prevails?
«Biology comes first: we evolve from there and, without the biological level, there would be no love. The cultural element comes later, like language, civilization, politics or religion. But, in terms of human experience, it is difficult to say which is most important between the two: sometimes the cultural plan is more influential than the biological one, because the rules are very powerful, especially in some societies “.
Love, he writes, is “survival”.
“Yes. It is the way in which evolution ensures that we carry on fundamental relationships from a biological point of view: we must mate to put the world of children and then we have to look after them, so that the species survives. Little humans are difficult to grow, in fact we need partners, family, friends and professional figures to do it and, with all these people, we must cooperate; But, sometimes, people are not easy … “
In short, is it a trick?
«It is a form of biological corruption. A reward, for the fact of carrying out such a difficult activity as being in relation and cooperating with others: therefore we develop a chemical dependence on love “.
How do you create?
«Through beta-endorphins, the chemical elements of love. Ossocin and dopamine are the chemical bases of the attraction, the beta-endorphins instead feed long-lasting relationships: to be sure that dependence is created, something powerful is needed ».
Are the beta-endorphins?
«I am an opiate, like heroin. When we are with someone we love, we receive a beta-endorphine discharge and we feel calm, safe, euphoric. When we move away, we go to opiate abstinence, which is physiologically and psychologically painful; Therefore we return from the person we love, for another dose. Even when we sing, dance, we embrace each other release beta-endorphine ».
So this dependence is also created through other relationships?
“Absolutely. We always talk about romantic love, but all forms of human love are a source: that for children, for the family, for friends, for our animals … Beta-endorphins support all forms of love. They are the glue of the company: a very powerful glue, which helps to keep us together, on a biological level. Love is the basis of society: without it, nobody would cooperate. More: there would be no human species ».
What is “physiological and behavioral synchronism”?
«It is the phenomenon to the heart of love. It happens when all the mechanisms of the body synchronize with the person you love: replicate the behaviors of the other; body temperature, pressure and beats synchronize; Cerebral activations and neurochemical levels are the same. In a sense, two people become one, because their bodies and their minds do exactly the same thing: it is the biological definition of soul mate. You are linked to the person you love as tightly as possible ».
Is it true that love is good for health?
«Yes, for various reasons. People with good relationships have more practical and emotional support. And the beta-endorphins support the immune system. Therefore love is the number one factor for physical and mental health, happiness and longevity ».
Are there forms of love underestimated?
“Yes. In the West we are obsessed with romantic love and therefore we neglect other forms of love, equally powerful and beneficial, such as the one that binds us to friends or animals “.
Is it always love?
“Yes. It is a attachment relationship, like those between humans. And it is mutual: we have the rehearsals, because from a test with the scanner it emerged as dogs love humans as such, and not as a source of food ».
Is true love only one?
“Most animals are unfaithful. And even most of the humans … Polycian supporters claim to be able to love more people at the same time. On the other hand, it is possible to have a long -term romantic love relationship at any age ».
As?
«Some people are prepared by genes. And, if good bases of attachment have been received in childhood, it is more likely to be able to have these relationships and develop the skills necessary to maintain them ».
Can we say that there is a “science of love”?
“Yes, there is certainly. We will never know everything, since some aspects of love are subjective and cannot be verified, but every year we discover more and more. We understand the neuroscience of love, the genes underlying it, the one that happens to us from a physiological point of view and, also, many psychological aspects of love “.
Is it enough to understand it?
«No … and that’s why love is such an extraordinary phenomenon: there will always be something inaccessible. And this means that it will always remain a tip of magic ».