32 Weird, True Psychological Facts about Love No One Seems to Know

Love isn’t just what you see in fairytales and rom-coms. There are psychological facts about love that we could all benefit from learning.

Learning more about love, its origin, and how it affects so many parts of life can not only remind us of how lucky we are but also how much we still have to learn. Things like the psychological facts about love.

Love isn’t this magical feeling that is unexplainable. It isn’t just for romantic relationships. Love is shared between friends and family. Love is something that benefits you. It is shared between animals.

What are psychological facts about love?

Psychology is the science of the mind and behavior. It is rigorously studied and tested. It studies both the conscious and unconscious and has a varied scope of focus.

These psychological facts about love have been researched. These are not myths or assumptions. These are scientific facts about love to give you hope, make you smile, or inspire you to think.

[Read: What does it feel like to be in love?]

Psychological facts about love

#1 Love and lust are not the same. Love is fueled by emotions. Lust is fueled by motivation to receive a reward rather than the empathy that comes with love. [Read: The clearest signs you’re feeling lust and not love]

#2 Love can be brief. We always think of love as eternal, but it can be both. Love can be fleeting. You can be in love with someone for days. Love can be a lasting state, but also momentary.

#3 Love is not all you need. It is nice to say that love is enough to make a relationship last, but that just isn’t true. Couples who still feel love for each other can end up apart due to so many other circumstances and factors.

#4 We can love more. You may think you are only worthy of so much love because of what you can give. With things like meditation and self-love, you can learn how to love more fully. Practice of these positive thoughts can help you gain the capacity for empathy and reduce feelings like fear.

#5 You cannot run out of love. Love does not have a limit. You do not have 100% of love and must divide that amongst the people in your life. Just because you love one person does not take away from the love you have for another. Love is cared for with emotional engagement, focus, and actions. [Read: The different types of love you’ll experience in your life]

#6 Love is not unconditional. We often hear the term unconditional love. That means your love remains no matter what, but one of the requirements for love is safety. Another is trust. This is why trauma can prevent us from forming deep emotional connections without the proper care and therapy.

#7 We can enhance love. Take action and make love a priority and it can improve the effects it has on us. Expressing your love results in positive feelings for the person sharing and the person receiving. [Read: How to express your love to someone without using words]

#8 Love is not just in your mind. Love is not just something you think. It is seen throughout your body. A lack of love can have as much of a negative impact on our life as smoking.

#9 Marriage improves long-term health. Those who are married live longer and healthier lives than those who are single. And even after losing a spouse, it shortens the life expectancy of the person left behind.

#10 People in love can synchronize their hearts. Studies show people in love can sync up their heart rates by making eye contact for three minutes.

#11 Love is addictive. Falling in love triggers feelings of euphoria similar to the use of cocaine. The brain’s response to drugs is eerily similar to the experience of falling in love. [Read: Subtle signs you’re secretly addicted to love]

#12 Cuddling feels so good for a reason. When you are cuddling with someone, even if you’re in a strange position, there is a reason it feels so amazing. Cuddling releases a hormone called oxytocin which is referred to as the fuzzy hormone. It is even being tested as an anti-anxiety drug. [Read: The surprising benefits of cuddling and how it makes your life better]

#13 Your heart can break, literally. Our emotions are so intense that enduring something traumatic like divorce, death of a loved one, or betrayal can actually break your heart.

#14 Love is contagious. Just as smiling at someone encourages them to smile, expressing love inspires those feelings from others.

#15 Love changes. When you fall in love with someone new, it incites those feelings of excitement. You get butterflies. But over time, that love morphs into committed love that comes with feelings of security and comfort.

#16 Timing effects love. Studies show that people are more likely to fall in love when they are seeking adventure, are lonely, adjusting to change, or psychologically or financially prepared for a family. 

#17 Falling in love makes you calm. The act of falling in love gives you a calming effect that actually aids in your growth.

#18 Butterflies are real. The feeling of butterflies you get when you see someone new isn’t just in your mind. It is an adrenaline rush caused by your body’s realization that you are taking a risk by falling in love.

#19 Men are attracted to red. Studies are consistent in the fact that a man is more likely to engage in deep conversation with a woman wearing red.

#20 Kissing is good for you. Men who kiss their wives every morning often live up to five years longer. [Read: These kissing techniques will achieve that heartbeat skipping kiss] 

#21 Love can alter your taste. Research shows that people thinking about love find foods to taste sweeter than those not thinking about love.

#22 Food helps romance. Women are more open to romantic gestures after eating a meal than before.

#23 You can be afraid of love. It is normal to fear love. Love can lead to heartbreak, but there is an actual fear of love called philophobia. [Read: Downright strange but true phobias about love]

#24 Online dating works. Although online dating isn’t for everyone and comes with its own issues, 23% of couples who meet online end up getting married.

#25 Love is protected. A group called the Love Commandos, based in India, protects couples who suffer harassment due to their differing castes.

#26 Are soulmates real? The majority of married women say that their husband is not their soulmate, yet 73% of Americans believe in soulmates.

#27 We are not alone. Monogamy is not just a human tradition. Animals like wolves, penguins, and even some mice mate for life.

#28 Seeing your partner helps. We know having a loved one around improves your state of mind and promotes healing. However, even looking at a photo of the person you love can relieve pain. [Read: Reasons why empathy is important in a relationship]

#29 Balance is important. Although there are always exceptions, balance is important to a lasting relationship. Partners that are very similar or very different have a lower chance of lasting than couples who meet somewhere in the middle.

#30 Body language is key. The number one way we attract people is through our body language. If you desire love, uncross those arms and smile.

#31 A look can help. If you feel down, look at the person you love. It can increase your happiness and feelings of emotional well being.

#32 The ring finger. We often wear engagement rings on our finger because the Ancient Greeks believed that the ‘vein of love’ ran from the fourth finger on the left hand straight to the heart.

[Read: 23 more crazy facts about love that will definitely blow your mind]

Love is something so pure and vital to humanity and life itself. Hopefully, we never stop learning more psychological facts about love.