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Here are two articles from a newsletter/booklet-thing I picked up whilst in Richmond last weekend:
Cupid, My Dealer -- The Science of Love
(Rebekah Trachtenburg)
While falling in love might seem all magical and romantic, the fact is, it's a series of biologically produced drugs that your body releases into the system called monoamines. Dopamine makes you feel good, norepinephrine (chemical cousin of amphetamines) stimulates the production of adrenaline, and serotonin causes excitement. It is the combination of these three neurochemicals that trigger a lustful feeling for someone else. People have been said to be "stupid in love." This statement is actually somewhat true, for these chemicals interact with other neurotransmitters causing the brain to become overloaded from time to time.
Phenylethylamine (PEA) is the chemical responsible for the transition from lust to love. This chemical speeds up the flow of information between nerve cells. It causes the body to feel excited. Unfortunately, our body builds up a tolerance to these drugs over a period of time and eventually it takes more and more of the chemicals to achieve the effects. PEA remains increased for the first two to three years in most relationships. An anthropologist by the name of Helen Fisher conducted a series of studies on PEA and marriages all across the world. She noticed a significant increase in divorce rates during the fourth year of marriage. Although PEA (or a lack there of) is not a cause of divorce, there is a strong correlation between the two.
In another study, conducted by Harville Hendriz, he identified an increased production of PEA in individuals when they identified someone who could finish their childhood business or give them back what they lost due to the socialization process of becoming an adult. This theory has been used to explain why, although you might find someone attractive, there is just "no chemistry." Love junkies can't seem to get enough of PEA and often find themselves jumping from one relationship to another, seeking a continuous high. As soon as they feel a decrease in their drug's effect, they quickly move on to a new dealer.
Due to the decrease in PEA over a period of time, it is essential that the chemical oxytocin be produced for a long-term relationship to last. Oxytocin is often referred to as the attachment or cuddling chemical, for it is produced when couples cuddle before, during and after sex. The more frequently two people have sex, the more this chemical is produced and the more attached they become to one another. Interestingly, the more a married couple has sex, the better their chances of honoring their wedding vows for life. Oxytocin is also the chemical produced during childbirth, breast-feeding and orgasm.
Relationship longevity relies heavily on the last of the drugs, endorphins. These morephine-like opiates cause a calm, pain-killing, pleasure-enhancing effect. They are increased with intimacy, dependability, trust, and affection. Couples are capable of becoming addicted to endorphins. They are responsible for the yearning to be with your partner when geographically apart. They are cruccial chemicals due to the fact that only 3% of mammals are monogamous, and humans are not one of them. -END-
And~
Fuck the Romans
(Cameron Ayers \|\ Sterling Hundley)
The original St. Valentine was a priest in Rome in the middle of the third century, during the reign of Claudius II. According to legend, Valentine would marry young couples in secret Christian ceremonies against the will of the emperor. Claudius apparently believed that married men made poor soldiers, distracted by too many responsibilities, and banned all marriages and engagements. However, with so many happy couples throwing unexplained reception parties, it wasn't long before word got out. Valentine was now a wanted man of the cloth, and took to hiding out in caves, which, of course, is where he had already been staying. Eventually, he was discovered by Roman soldiers, and taken before the prefect of Rome. The prefect ordered him to be beaten with heavy wooden clubs until he denounced his Christian teachings and swore allegiance to the emperor. Valentine refunsed, despite all of his bones being crushed. At this point his captors had enough and sliced off his head. Before he died he is said to have left a note for the jailer's daughter, signed "from your Valentine." The day was February 14, 270.
Not exactly the image of candy hearts and Cupid that most of us picture for Valentine's Day. That image came around during the Middle Ages, in an attempt to completely do away with pagan springtime rituals, like Lupercalia. Instead of the tradition of rounding up eligible young women and placing their names in a jar to be chosen by the men, Christians supplanted the names of saints. Saint Valentine was seen a a personification of pious love, and Feb. 14 became his feast day. Later in an exclusive arrangement the Federation of American Greeting Card Manufacturers purchased the rights to St. Valentine's Day from the Catholic Church. Now the celebration is even further from the true meaning... beating the crap out of your enemies before decapitating them. Now that's showing the love. -END-
I loved both of those articles X)
Cupid, My Dealer -- The Science of Love
(Rebekah Trachtenburg)
While falling in love might seem all magical and romantic, the fact is, it's a series of biologically produced drugs that your body releases into the system called monoamines. Dopamine makes you feel good, norepinephrine (chemical cousin of amphetamines) stimulates the production of adrenaline, and serotonin causes excitement. It is the combination of these three neurochemicals that trigger a lustful feeling for someone else. People have been said to be "stupid in love." This statement is actually somewhat true, for these chemicals interact with other neurotransmitters causing the brain to become overloaded from time to time.
Phenylethylamine (PEA) is the chemical responsible for the transition from lust to love. This chemical speeds up the flow of information between nerve cells. It causes the body to feel excited. Unfortunately, our body builds up a tolerance to these drugs over a period of time and eventually it takes more and more of the chemicals to achieve the effects. PEA remains increased for the first two to three years in most relationships. An anthropologist by the name of Helen Fisher conducted a series of studies on PEA and marriages all across the world. She noticed a significant increase in divorce rates during the fourth year of marriage. Although PEA (or a lack there of) is not a cause of divorce, there is a strong correlation between the two.
In another study, conducted by Harville Hendriz, he identified an increased production of PEA in individuals when they identified someone who could finish their childhood business or give them back what they lost due to the socialization process of becoming an adult. This theory has been used to explain why, although you might find someone attractive, there is just "no chemistry." Love junkies can't seem to get enough of PEA and often find themselves jumping from one relationship to another, seeking a continuous high. As soon as they feel a decrease in their drug's effect, they quickly move on to a new dealer.
Due to the decrease in PEA over a period of time, it is essential that the chemical oxytocin be produced for a long-term relationship to last. Oxytocin is often referred to as the attachment or cuddling chemical, for it is produced when couples cuddle before, during and after sex. The more frequently two people have sex, the more this chemical is produced and the more attached they become to one another. Interestingly, the more a married couple has sex, the better their chances of honoring their wedding vows for life. Oxytocin is also the chemical produced during childbirth, breast-feeding and orgasm.
Relationship longevity relies heavily on the last of the drugs, endorphins. These morephine-like opiates cause a calm, pain-killing, pleasure-enhancing effect. They are increased with intimacy, dependability, trust, and affection. Couples are capable of becoming addicted to endorphins. They are responsible for the yearning to be with your partner when geographically apart. They are cruccial chemicals due to the fact that only 3% of mammals are monogamous, and humans are not one of them. -END-
And~
Fuck the Romans
(Cameron Ayers \|\ Sterling Hundley)
The original St. Valentine was a priest in Rome in the middle of the third century, during the reign of Claudius II. According to legend, Valentine would marry young couples in secret Christian ceremonies against the will of the emperor. Claudius apparently believed that married men made poor soldiers, distracted by too many responsibilities, and banned all marriages and engagements. However, with so many happy couples throwing unexplained reception parties, it wasn't long before word got out. Valentine was now a wanted man of the cloth, and took to hiding out in caves, which, of course, is where he had already been staying. Eventually, he was discovered by Roman soldiers, and taken before the prefect of Rome. The prefect ordered him to be beaten with heavy wooden clubs until he denounced his Christian teachings and swore allegiance to the emperor. Valentine refunsed, despite all of his bones being crushed. At this point his captors had enough and sliced off his head. Before he died he is said to have left a note for the jailer's daughter, signed "from your Valentine." The day was February 14, 270.
Not exactly the image of candy hearts and Cupid that most of us picture for Valentine's Day. That image came around during the Middle Ages, in an attempt to completely do away with pagan springtime rituals, like Lupercalia. Instead of the tradition of rounding up eligible young women and placing their names in a jar to be chosen by the men, Christians supplanted the names of saints. Saint Valentine was seen a a personification of pious love, and Feb. 14 became his feast day. Later in an exclusive arrangement the Federation of American Greeting Card Manufacturers purchased the rights to St. Valentine's Day from the Catholic Church. Now the celebration is even further from the true meaning... beating the crap out of your enemies before decapitating them. Now that's showing the love. -END-
I loved both of those articles X)
