Neurobiology of Love

Question 1

What are the three main components of Sternberg’s love theory?

Answer 1

Passion, intimacy and commitment

Question 2

What are the big three components to love?

Answer 2

Proximity, similarity and familiarity

Question 3

Why is it evolved for us to not be attracted to kin?

Answer 3

Inbreeding has produced bad offspring so animals are not wired to produce with their kin

Question 4

What is the maternal perinatal association?

Answer 4

Built in repulsion towards people who we spent the first few years of our life with

Question 5

What are the more interesting four components to love?

Answer 5

Competence, physical attractiveness, gain/loss (sensitive to change because likely to be a danger or an opportunity) and misattribution of arousal (feeling aroused but not sure why so have to make up another reason for it)

Question 6

What are the advantages of pair bonding?

Answer 6

When the female gives exclusive sexual attention, it allows the male to provide more resources for the child

Question 7

What are the three phases of attraction to love?

Answer 7

Lust phase, attraction phase (craving for reunion), attachment phase

Question 8

What are the gender differences of lust?

Answer 8

Men: visual stimuli e.g. porn – constant
Women: auditory stimuli and memories – periodic

Question 9

What are the gender differences of romantic love?

Answer 9

Same intensity in men and women, attracted to reliable, mature and sociable people
Men: physical attractiveness, signs of youth and beauty
Women: attracted to power, money and education

Question 10

As a result of lust, romantic love and attachment what can men and women do?

Answer 10

Mate with someone they’re not in love with (chemistry)
Be in love with someone they don’t want a sexual relationship with: platonic
Feel deeply attached to someone without sexual attraction: eternal love

Question 11

What three elements of romantic love suggest that love is an addiction?

Answer 11

Tolerance: always want more
Withdrawal: despair if doesn’t see loved one
Relapse: if you see someone again after a long time, you will feel the same

Question 12

What are the two phases of rejection?

Answer 12

Protest phase -pleads/seduce

Resignation/despair phase: brain activity in lots of areas suggesting that love continues

Question 13

What percentage of other animals display social monogamy?

Answer 13

90% of birds

3% of mammals

Question 14

What are the four stages of relationship breakdown?

Answer 14

Criticism, stonewalling, defensiveness, contempt