Whether you’re a Disney fanatic, film buff or a music connoisseur, you’re probably familiar with the concept of love at first sight. We’ve all heard the stories, but is it an idea that should remain within fairytales or is it a phenomenon we should begin to take seriously?Billionaires has explored the science behind this much-desired event to help you discover whether you’re a true believer in love at first sight.
FAIRY STORY OR ROMANTIC REALITY?
There are many people from all over the world who truly believe that they fell madly in love the moment they saw their special someone, but there are also many who argue that this is a false representation of the term ‘true love’. In fact, some people argue that it is these ‘believers’ who find themselves falling madly in love with every attractive person who passes their way.
Of course, it is possible that such people still experience the sense of love that is felt merely once in a lifetime by many others. However, this theory does not prevent critics from suggesting that instantaneous love is the product of romantics becoming blinded by the sexy curves or rock-hard pecs of a potential partner. So does love at first sight really exist, or is it our mind’s attempt to romanticise a far more mundane process?
DIVING INTO LOVE
Some of these critics suggest that the idea of love at first sight is actually a concept manufactured by those who desperately wish to believe. Many even argue that those jumping headfirst into a relationship are actually leaving themselves susceptible to the sensation of falling in love, particularly if they replicate the age-old courting rituals that linger within classic films and the soothing tones of Frank Sinatra. When you consider the excitement and romance of a walk along the beach or a cuddle under the stars, it’s easy to understand how this could be the case.
According to psychologists, this theory explains the sensation of ‘falling in love’ that many feel when they first discover their future celebrity crush. Elliot Cohen, Ph.D argues that love at first sight is simply a misnomer, and a concept that fails to take into account the impossibility of learning the nature of a person by merely seeing them. Sure, it’s easy to become infatuated by Chris Hemsworth or Megan Fox, but many of their fans know little more than the meagre answers they provide during their interviews. This applies to moments in which we first meet a new person, when it is impossible, according to Cohen, to truly fall in love.
TRUST YOUR GUT
Other scientists have tackled the question from another angle, arguing that the sensation of experiencing love at first sight is actually the result of a “gut reaction” that is designed to help you gauge the long-term outcome of your relationship with someone new. James McNulty, Ph.D from Florida State University has co-authored a study using word association to measure “gut- level” instinct in newlyweds, who he believes already knew instinctively whether their marriage was heading for trouble. According to McNulty, your “knee jerk” reaction to your other half is likely to tell you how you really feel; if your gut says they are the one, then it’s possible you’ll interpret that feeling as love at first sight.
THE EUPHORIA OF CHEMISTRY
Luckily, science has also found support for those who are certain they’ve fallen head over heels in a matter of seconds. US researchers from Syracuse University revealed that it takes just one fifth of a second to fall in love with someone after they analysed the release of chemicals in the brain.
These chemicals, which affect intellect and cognitive functions, are reportedly capable of producing euphoria similar to the ‘high’ experienced from drugs such as cocaine. However, these results pose a new question: is it the heart that falls in love, or the brain? Professor Stephanie Ortigue believes it’s a product of both, arguing that the right person can be the catalyst for a complex release of chemicals such as dopamine, oxytocin and adrenaline that leave the unprepared in a loved-up daze we’ve come to refer to as ‘love at first sight’.
FINDING ‘THE ONE’
Of course, these studies assume love is a scientific process, while many truly believe that love at first sight is experienced once in a lifetime. Not merely a chemical reaction or product of lustful desire, some argue that they truly knew that their other half was ‘the one’ in a matter of moments. Whatever you believe, it’s important to stay open minded when it comes to the opinion of your special someone; it might be a little disheartening if they didn’t feel the same way within moments, but anyone who has been in a long-term relationship will know that it’s lasting love that truly matters in the end.
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