relationship
Here’s how men’s brains change when they’re in love
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When we are newly in love, we are not ourselves – this applies to all genders. In men, however, the love high shows itself in a very special way.
Is he serious about us? is he really in love with me Most (heterosexual) women have asked themselves these kinds of questions when they’ve met a man they really like but aren’t sure if the affection is mutual. The signs of his feelings are relatively clear – if we know what to look for. Because a lot happens in the brain when we fall in love. And men in particular then sometimes display very specific behaviors.
Blinded by love: This is what infatuation does to the brain
At the beginning of a relationship, people experience a kind of intoxication, our brain pours out substances that practically make us high – drunk on love, so to speak. First of all, this applies to all genders. This state of intoxication keeps our judgment on the back burner. We may overlook red flags that will be fatal to us later in the relationship.
Men in particular are often more impulsive than usual during this first phase of falling in love. This is because the prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for planning and making sensible decisions, among other things, is inhibited. Therefore, men in this state often make more emotion-based decisions.
Also, falling in love deactivates the parts of the brain responsible for social anxiety. According to clinical psychologist Dr. Holly Schiff can show this in men in a special way: They then also publicly show their affection for their partner, the relationship expert explains to “Bustle”. So when men engage in behaviors that are actually labeled as typically female – holding hands, gazing into each other’s eyes in love, etc. – then this can be a clear sign that they’ve really gotten it.
Tunnel vision, less pain: That’s how they are, the men in love
In addition, heterosexual men are apparently very fixated on their new partner, according to neuroscientist Dr. Jarred Younger also opposite “Bustle”. They would not really perceive other women around them. This has to do with the messenger substance oxytocin, which is also often referred to colloquially as the “cuddle hormone”. We release oxytocin when we are in love – but also when we hug a friend.
It could also be that men in love are less sensitive to pain than men who are not in love. dr As Younger explains, “Love is such a powerful emotion that laboratory tests have shown that it cuts pain in half.” He could see that in brain scans.
So if your sweetheart only has eyes for you, acts impulsively, and feels invulnerable, then chances are he’s just as in love with you as you are with him.
Sources used: bustle.com, betterhelp.com