Doctor Love: 12 Fascinating Facts About LOVE

Sure you’ve experienced it but there may be a few things you don’t know about the four letter word –L O V E.

Here are some of the most interesting things about love. If you want to learn more about this topic, please take a look at the references below. 

1. Sweat is an active ingredient in most perfumes and love potions in the past. Should you add a bit of sweat to your perfume? If you don’t stink, then it’s probably alright.

2.  Scientists say that most people would fall in love 7 times before settling down.

People who say they’ve never been in love have a rare disease called hypopituitarism wherein one does not or never feels the rapture of love.

3. The term LOVE comes from lubhyati, a Sanskrit word for desire.

4. In tennis, love means zero because some tennis players play for love in other words, playing for nothing.

5. Whenever one is heartbroken, one feels a certain type of pain. What is interesting is that, those who have been rejected show strong activity in their insular cortex –that part of the brain that signals and experiences physical pain.

6. Sometimes, the chase is an important component in having a romantic relationship.

7. Individuals with symmetrical faces have more lovers than those who don’t.

8. When women fall in love, they show more activity in that part of the brain that is responsible for memory.

9. Plato says in his Symposium that initially human beings were created whole that they had four hands, four legs, two identical faces, and were hermaphrodite. When they revolted against Zeus, the Greek God split them in two –man and woman. This created that innate desire to be with another human being to feel whole.

10. Falling in love is an urge –it is akin to sex and hunger –a primitive drive.

11. People who have intense romances i.e. the ones you see in the movies are more likely to divorce.

12. Romantic love lasts only a year or so. It is later followed by attachment love –a more stable kind of love.

References and Photo Credits

Ackerman, Diane. 1995. A Natural History of Love. Vancouver, WA: Vintage Books.

Ben-Ze’ev, Aaron and Ruhama Goussinsky. 2008. In the Name of Love: Romantic Ideology and Its Victims. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.

Buss, David. M 2006. “The Evolution of Love.” The New Psychology of Love. Ed. by Robert Sternberg and Karin Weis. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press.

Cohen, Elizabeth. “Loving with All Your Brain.” CNN.com. February 15, 2007. Accessed: July 20, 2009.

Fisher, Helen. 1992. Anatomy of Love: A Natural History of Mating, Marriage, and Why We Stray. New York, NY: Ballantine Books.

“The Drive to Love: The Natural Mechanism for Mate Selection.” The New Psychology of Love. Ed. by Robert Sternberg and Karin Weis. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press.

Why We Love: The Nature and Chemistry of Romantic Love. New York, NY: Henry Hold and Company, LLC.

Tresidder, Jack. 2005. The Complete Book of Symbols. San Francisco, CA: Chronicle Books.

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Doctor Love: Top 6 Famous Love Letters in History

Thinking of professing your love to that special someone? Don’t send a text message or an email. Please.

Here are the top 6 love letters from history that will surely melt the heart of the ladies and provide the men a bit of inspiration and a little bravado to follow in the footsteps of some of history's greatest men.

Henry VIII to Anne Boleyn

Artist Arthur Hopkins

Sure he said, “Off with her head!” in 1536 but when the infamous playboy Henry VIII was still so in love with Anne Boleyn, he wrote her this letter:

“I beg to know expressly your intention touching the love between us. Necessity compels me to obtain this answer, having been more than a year wounded by the dart of love, and not yet sure whether I shall fail or find a place in your affection.”

Anne and Henry had one child they named Elizabeth.  Elizabeth later on became one of the most famous English Queens in history.

Napoleon to his wife Josephine Bonaparte

Napoleon’s real waterloo is his wife Josephine and his letters to her shows that the French leader had a soft side. He divorced her when she couldn’t bear him children but continued to write her anyway.  

He wrote this letter on July 17^th, 1796 when they were still married and Napoleon had to leave to command the French Army in Italy's borders.

“Since I left you, I have been constantly depressed. My Happiness is to be near you. Incessantly I live over in my memory your caresses, your tears, your affectionate solicitude. The charms of the incomparable Josephine kindle continually a burning and a glowing flame in my heart. When, free from all solicitude, all harassing care, shall I be able to pass all my time with you, having only to love you, and to think only of the happiness of so saying, and of proving it to you?”

Beethoven to his Immortal Beloved

Beethoven in his younger years.

It is believed that famous musician and composer’s immortal beloved is Antonie Brentano, a daughter of a diplomat.  Brentano, a married woman, being Beethoven's Immortal Beloved has been disputed by scholars Goldschmidt, Beahrs, Gail S. Altman, and Marie-Elisabeth Tellenbach because Beethoven had a strict moral code. These scholars are firm in their opinion that Beethoven would never have an affair with a friend's wife. The wealthy merchant Franz Brentano is believed to be a dear friend of the composer. 

Aside from the heartfelt letters Beethoven sent to his Immortal Beloved whoever she may be, he also dedicated his Diabelli Variations Op. 120 to her. Here’s one of his letters:

“Though still in bed, my thoughts go out to you, my Immortal Beloved, Be calm-love me-today-yesterday-what tearful longings for you-you-you-my life-my all-farewell. Oh continue to love me-never misjudge the most faithful heart of your beloved. Ever thine. Ever mine. Ever ours.”

Winston Churchill to his wife Clementine

The two were married for 57 years and constantly wrote to each other whenever one was far away from the other. In an interview released by the Smithsonian, Churchill quipped, "My most brilliant achievement was my ability to persuade my wife to marry me."

The man who carried Britain through its darkest hour has a soft spot for one woman and one woman alone -his wife Clementine. This photo of the couple was taken on the Thames in 1940

This letter was written by the former British Prime Minister on January 23, 1935:

“My darling Clemmie, in your letter from Madras you wrote some words very dear to me, about having enriched your life. I cannot tell you what pleasure this gave me, because I always feel so overwhelmingly in your debt, if there can be accounts in love…What it has been to me to live all these years in your heart and companionship no phrases can convey.”

Frida Kahlo to Diego Rivera

When Frida Kahlo passed away in 1954, Diego was by her side.

The famous artist wrote to her husband frequently. She once said that there have been two grave accidents in her life –one when she was hit by a streetcar and the other –Diego. Below is the letter sent by Kahlo to Rivera in the year 1940:

“Diego my love- Remember that once  you finish the fresco we will be together forever once and for all, without arguments or anything, only to love one another. Behave yourself and do everything that Emmy Lou tells you. I adore you more than ever. Your girl, Frida (Write me).”

Ronald Reagan to his wife Nancy

Wallace asked the President why the office didn't weigh on him like it had on others and the camera cut to a rosy cheeked, vibrant and twinkle-eyed Reagan and his response was "well, maybe they didn't have a Nancy." (Mike Wallace's interview with Ronald Reagan) 

President Ronald Reagan wrote a number of letters to the First Lady from the time they met. He gave her this love note on Valentine’s Day in the year 1977:

“Dear St. Valentine,

I am writing to you about a beautiful young lady who has been in this household for 25 years now –come March 4.

I have a request to make of you but before doing so feel you should know more about her. For one thing she has 2 hearts – her own and mine. I’m not complaining. I gave her mine willingly, and like it right where it is. Her name is Nancy but for some time now I’ve called her Mommie and don’t believe I could change.

My request of you is –could you on this day whisper in her ear that someone loves her very much and more and more each day? Also tell her this “Someone” would run down like a dollar clock without her so she must always stay where she is.”

Photos via flickr.com, chestofbooks.com, theroyalforums.com, santamonicaflowers.com, fortheloveofausten.com, smithsonianmag.com, istanbul74.com, jerseynut.blogspot.com, barewalls.com, time.com

Article and Research: Sigrid Salucop

Doctor Love: Defining Beauty

Monica Bellucci

After fixing her hair in front of the mirror, one of my former roommates realized how fun it is to be single again. With a girl like her out on the prowl for the perfect guy –tall, handsome, intelligent, good pedigree and maybe a hint of the usual bad boy attitude women love, many women would be intimidated that she, a beautiful and educated young woman is single and available.

Sophia Loren

Confusion and Doubt: What makes a woman beautiful?

However, like many beautiful women, she does not see herself clearly. In fact, she doubts that she is beautiful.  This brings us to a rather important question, why is it that we can look at other women and say that they are perfect but when we look at ourselves, we see nothing but flaws. 

There are some Filipino women who are exempted from this rule though because some, even the not-so-beautiful, have so much confidence in themselves that one wonders where this confidence was bought.

                                                                         Photoshop Era

This is the era where models and beauty queens are being airbrushed and photoshopped like crazy, and we ask ourselves, what is cute compared to magazine beautiful? Yes, women know that these are unrealistic photos but we all strive so hard to look like we just leaped out of a magazine. Although some would say that they doll up to make themselves happy, it is human nature for women to try to look more beautiful to attract potential mates.

Being beautiful has its rewards but it’s not your makeup or the way your hair is pulled up or curled or whatever that will increase your chances of being deemed as an attractive female.

                       Mankind’s Quest for Beauty

Angelina Jolie

The secret to being attractive has been a part of mankind’s quest for as long as civilization is concerned. Cleopatra for one invented makeup to make herself look more attractive than her peers (or her subjects) while Marie Antoinette bathed in wine to ensure that she doesn’t age. Women and a few metrosexual men spend a third of their yearly income to make themselves look good.

All Comes Down To Genes

Marilyn Monroe

According to studies from a number of universities abroad, certain mathematical facial proportions are considered beautiful but its not just the mere arrangement of eyes and noses or how big one’s chin is that are taken into consideration. The human brain does more than recognizing what is beautiful and what is not because most usually assess emotions, fertility and personality along with beauty all at once.

When judging whether a woman is beautiful, men make a judgment of this woman’s health and vitality. Facial symmetry and how clear and smooth one’s skin is makes one beautiful and also means that a woman with such traits has good genes. You do not have to be porcelain white to be beautiful because beauty is recognized by the male brain across cultures no matter what your color. This however is only the tip of the iceberg.

The Difference between Men and Women

Dita Von Teese

A lot of people wonder why so many ugly men date beautiful girls but it’s not all about the money as one would conclude. A study published in Psychological Science found that women do not place physical attractiveness as very important compared to how their male counterparts see beauty. It was also found that when men are looking for potential mates, they usually do not factor in their looks making it possible for unattractive men to get lucky. 

Here’s a warning to the men out there though, according to the same study, people who have the same level of physical beauty usually date each other or get married but sometimes aspire to date or marry individuals who are slightly more attractive.

Catherine Deneuve

Reality

When reality sets in, the less attractive justify their choice of partners i.e. their less than beautiful partners by saying they are kind or have a sense of humor. Without a background on such studies, a regular person would just say that beauty is in the eye of the beholder but this of course is just bullcrap (excuse the French). 

We don’t just zero in on the face though, the shape of one’s body and the height (especially in men) are things that are also taken into consideration. Women with an hourglass figure for example are the optimal choice for the strongest and most attractive of men.

Since attraction boils down to genetics, it would make one wonder whether that trip to the salon is still necessary. It probably isn’t.

N.B. 

One has to note that there are other things that attract men -it could be your sense of humor, your intelligence, etc.

SOURCES:

Tel Aviv University.(2008). Computer Taught To Recognize Attractiveness In Women.

Botting, K. (1996). Sex Appeal: The Art and Science of Sexual Attraction. St. Martin's Press.

Perrett, D. (2010). IN YOUR FACE The New Science of Human Attraction. Palgrave McMillan.

Photos:

theskinnystiletto.com

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whosthegirlnextdoor.wordpress.com

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thelifefiles.com

Article Written By Sigrid Salucop

For more information about the science of attraction, you may refer to the videos below:

Diliman Video of the Week: Truthteller Heidi Mendoza's love story