As February 14th quickly approaches, many people's thoughts turn toward love. But what is the modern conception pertaining to love? Most importantly to thousands of singles, is there some scientific method that would completely define love and allow the "perfect couple" to unite?
There has always been debate as to the question, "Is love a science?" In 1978 Wisconsin Senator William Proxmire shared his opinion about this question:
"...not even the National Science Foundation can argue that falling in love is a science."
Senator Proxmire was extremely wrong in his reasoning. Psychologists have done three decades of scientific research concerning the topic of love.
Although psychologists have not discovered the true reason why people fall in love, they have made great strides in the social influences referring to the topic of love. In Chapter 11 of our textbook, psychologists say there are three major principles that guide attraction and relationship formation: proximity, similarity, and reciprocity. It is quite understand that two people with these three principles in common would eventually start a relationship and fall in love.
What about the couples who have none of these same principles in common? Is "All You Need is Love" the only interest a couple needs to sustain a relationship? Or is there more scientific evidence still undiscovered that would open the secrets pertaining to this mystical thing called love?
I think people fall in love because as we grow older we realize living on our own is not fun anymore and we want someone to share our fun with. After we find that someone we only grow to know them better, and soon we start feeling like we need that person in our life. Through getting to know that person we feel what they feel, and with attraction as well comes love.