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| Biological Studies of love |
| Biological models of love tend to see it as a mammalian drive, just like hunger or thirst. Psychology sees love as more of a social and cultural phenomenon. There are probably elements of truth in both views — certainly love is influenced by hormones (such as oxytocin), neurotrophins (such as NGF), and pheromones, and how people think and behave in love is influenced by their conceptions of love. |
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| The conventional view in biology is that there are two major drives in love — sexual attraction and attachment. Love between the opposite sexes which is not pure affection only results in intense longing and is often accompanied by physiological reactions like shortness of breath and rapid heart rate. Companionate love is affection and a feeling of intimacy not accompanied by physiological arousal. |
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| Psychological research shows that men tend to be more ludic and manic, whereas women tend to be storgic and pragmatic. |
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