The Science of Love, Desire and Attachment | Episode 59
Main Takeaways
Women's attraction to symmetrical men is strongest during the pre-ovulatory phase of their menstrual cycle.
Love and desire were once considered opposing forces, but modern research suggests they are related to endocrine systems and neural mechanisms.
Biological mechanisms play a role in promoting desire, love, and attachment, and animal models have been used to study them.
Attachment styles were first identified in the 1980s and include secure, anxious-avoidant, anxious-ambivalent, and disorganized-disoriented.
Attachment style as a child predicts attachment style in romantic partnerships later in life, with secure attachment being the most stable and predictable.
The neural circuits involved in child attachment are repurposed for romantic attachment later in life, with the autonomic nervous system playing a crucial role in the process.
Physiological PSI and cold showers can help readjust the autonomic nervous system in adults.
Interdependence is healthy, but it is important to recognize the difference between interdependence and codependency.
Understanding your own attachment style and being able to self-soothe are key to healthy relationships.
Learning to cultivate secure attachment is possible and beneficial for long-term relationships.
