Topic: Love Addiction
Date: 19 April 2024 (Friday)
Speaker: Ms Lee Li Li, Clinical Psychologist


The Science of Love

Frequently, there is a misconception that love solely resides within the realm of emotions, whereas in reality, it is intricately intertwined with neurological processes. Love is profoundly scientific, far beyond mere romantic sentiment.

Let's explore the primary functions of different regions of the brain:

1. Prefrontal cortex: Responsible for high-level cognitive processes such as decision-making, reasoning, personality expression, and social cognition.


2. Pituitary gland: Responsible for hormone production and sending signals to the endocrine glands about the amount of hormone to be produced.


3. Hypothalamus: The bridge between the nervous system and the hormonal system.

According to research led by Dr. Helen Fisher at Rutgers University, romantic love is divided into three major categories: lust, attraction, and attachment. In different types of love, the secretion levels of corresponding hormones also vary.

CATEGORIES	LUST	ATTRACTION	ATTACHMENT
HORMONES	Testosterone Estrogen	Dopamine Norepinephrine Serotonin	Oxytocin Vasopressin
SECRETION AREA	Reproductive Organs	Hypothalamus	Hypothalamus

Among them, attachment-type love is more similar to Platonic love (spiritual love). When a mother urgently protects her child, the secretion of oxytocin rapidly increases, which is similar to the hormones produced by attachment-type love. When oxytocin or vasopressin secretion increases, we classify it as attachment-type love. This type of love manifests in the form of affection, protection, and responsibility, unrelated to the romantic brain.

The hormones secreted in lust-type love are testosterone and estrogen, which lead to an increase in lust.

Attraction-type love is mainly influenced by various external factors, such as physical attractiveness and social circles (admiration and desire for romantic relationships among peers). When attraction-based love is fulfilled, the secretion of dopamine and adrenaline increases, causing excitement and joy. However, subsequent declines can lead to a certain sense of loss.

If individuals disregard consequences and continuously pursue or become addicted to the pleasures brought by lust-based and attraction-based love without self-awareness, they may develop a romantic brain.

Emotional characteristics of the love addiction include:

1. Easily swayed emotions by the object of affection.
2. Compulsive behaviours.
3. Addicted to pleasure.
4. Loss of self-control.

Groups of people prone to love addiction include:

1. Those who have experienced trauma.
2. Individuals with low self-esteem.
3. Those who have been abandoned.
4. Dominant individuals.
5. Victims of emotional or sexual abuse.

Love Addiction Self-Assessment (LASA)

How to overcome the love addiction:

1. Learn to be alone: Give yourself space for me-time.
2. Observe repetitive behaviours: Control and limit partner's behaviors.
3. Self-improvement: Adjust lifestyle, including diet, to promote the body's return to normal hormone secretion.
4. Seek support from family and friends to deal with compulsive behaviours.
5. Engage in support groups with related topics.

Note: The above content was adapted from 8TV Living Delight 2024 ‘Love Addiction’ on 19 April 2024. For further information and assistance, please contact us.