scientists prove
We really fall in love that easily
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Scientists have now investigated how long it takes on average for butterflies to flutter in your stomach – with a surprising result.
It feels like there are people who have already fallen madly in love after meeting one another. Others take much longer to feel the first signs of being in love. But are the differences really that big? The answer to that is: yes. Of course, the feeling of love and affection is individual and different from person to person. It is therefore quite normal that person A may be able to get involved with their counterpart faster than person B and therefore also develop feelings faster.
Nevertheless, the processes that take place in the body and are responsible for our falling in love when we find a person attractive are always similar – and start surprisingly early. How long it takes on average for butterflies to flutter in your stomach was investigated in this study – with a surprising result.
According to study: That’s how easy we really fall in love
Scientists from Syracuse University in New York examined in a study couple relationships and initially tested them for the physical reactions associated with being in love. The typical “pink-red glasses” symptoms – like tingling in the stomach, a desire for physical closeness and feelings of happiness. The researchers also found that people in love laugh and smile more overall. But when do these physical reactions set in? And why at all?
First of all, it could be established that the release of hormones in lovers is responsible for this type of symptoms and it actually starts after a fifth of a second. So it only takes the blink of an eye for our body to send out “we’re in love” signals.
Fireworks of emotions – or hormones?
How is it possible that at least our body can fall in love so quickly? We found the culprits: hormones and pheromones! Pheromones are sex messengers that suddenly make us very infatuated with our chosen one – and can even briefly impair clear thinking. Testosterone increases sexual desire. The happiness hormone dopamine causes euphoria.
Oxytocin is often even described as the love hormone because it increases affection and trust towards another person. So it’s no wonder that the body goes crazy with this firework of hormones and somehow our sanity is impaired. Because our hormones are definitely in the fast lane, our mind and emotions can’t keep up. And spoiler alert: that’s a good thing, too.
Emotional infatuation doesn’t build overnight
According to the researchers, a distinction must be made between an emotional bond, which can only be established much later, and the chemical processes that take place in the body. Because hormones and pheromones play the main role in the latter, but there is much more to a real couple relationship. Keywords: emotional bond, trust and open communication. That doesn’t build up overnight.
Who falls in love faster?
The widespread assumption that straight women fall in love faster persists. This may be because women are seen as more emotional, sometimes even headless. A thoughtless “I love you” can slip out. Many studies have shown that this is a misjudgment. one of these studies surveyed 172 college students about their behavior in prospective relationships. It turned out that contrary to the general perception, heterosexual men develop feelings faster and also express them.
Another study shows that in heterosexual relationships, men were ready to declare love after an average of 97 days, while women needed significantly longer for the three magic words. After 149 days, the first “I love you” came out on average. And that, although men are often perceived as reluctant to commit. The study reveals that equal attachment is meaningful and valued regardless of gender. In contrast to the physical reactions of being in love, however, it takes longer before a real relationship can be established.
Sources: quarks.de, spiegel.de, mentioned studies