Love, While it Lasts

How long does love last? If you're talking about that fabulous rush of emotion that makes you feel like you've just eaten all the chocolate in the world: About a year, according to these scientists:

Some couples may disagree, but romantic love lasts little more than a year, Italian scientists believe.

The University of Pavia found a brain chemical was likely to be responsible for the first flush of love.

Researchers said raised levels of a protein was linked to feelings of euphoria and dependence experienced at the start of a relationship.

But after studying people in long and short relationships and single people, they found the levels receded in time.

It's interesting, and it does bring up an even more interesting side question of whether it's a good or bad thing that those deeply romantic feelings level off after time. Everyone loves the feeling of being in love, but it's also, you know, kind of distracting, and not always in a good way. And speaking personally, as much as I loved the rush I felt when I was courting my wife, ten years into our marriage I equally love the depth and comfort of the way our relationship is now. Falling in love is fun; staying in love, however, rewards. At least, that's my spin on it.

In any event, here's a question for you: If they found a way to make that "falling in love" feeling last indefinitely, would you want it to? Would it be a cure to people falling out of love? Or would it get in the way of other, possibly deeper, manifestations of love? I know it's a pretty deep question for a Wednesday morning, but see what you can do with it.

Written by johnmscalzi Blog about this entry

This entry has 11 comments: (Add your own)

#11 Comment from lusciouskristin
12/11/07 4:43 PM | Permalink

Interesting.

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#10 Comment from psychfun
12/1/05 1:10 AM | Permalink

I agree, I want both. Either extreme is a problem. Totally goofy blind or totally comfortable boring is is not idea...somewhere in the middle....oh & with the Chocolate! :-)
#9 Comment from fisherkristina
12/1/05 12:51 AM | Permalink

Why does it have to be one or the other? Why can't it be both? Both the deeper love and the rush? Still feeling a rush after seven years, but also something deeper,

Krissy
http://journals.aol.com/fisherkristina/SometimesIThink
#8 Comment from onemoretina
11/30/05 11:29 PM | Permalink

I think it can last indefinitely, but not constantly. I've been married to my high school sweetheart for 30 years. What I find interesting is that over the course of those years, it's been like a rollercoaster ride. Sometimes you feel those heights of love and passion, and at other times, it settles down ... or even lowers ! ... for a while. The good thing is, when you are in it for the long haul, the feeling resurfaces again and again. It's not all over after the first year. But then, I'm sure I'm not telling you anything you haven't already experienced. Tinahttp://journals.aol.com/onemoretina/Ridealongwithme
#7 Comment from hwriter06
11/30/05 8:14 PM | Permalink

John you are looking at love as something that is like a blinding force that cannot be opposed . Have you ever read a book called The Art Of Loving

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Love, While it Lasts