February 14, Valentine's Day, “Psychological and biological dimensions of love”

Love is an emotion as old as human history. It is a process that sometimes brings happiness and peace, and sometimes can be psychologically complex. The famous philosopher Plato also defined love as the most dangerous mental illness. Altınbaş University Psychology Department Faculty Member, Clinical Psychologist Dr. Esra Gül Koçyiğit emphasized that love has great effects on human psychology on the occasion of February 14, Valentine's Day. Dr. Esra Gül Koçyiğit said, “True love is a process that helps a person develop and mature emotionally. Trust, love, commitment and individual freedom must be balanced in healthy relationships.”

The origin and universality of love

According to Dr. Koçyiğit, love is directly linked to human biological and emotional needs. “Throughout history, love has been one of the most studied subjects of art, literature and philosophy. From poems to novels, from theater to cinema, love has always been a theme that nourishes the human soul,” he said.

“Dopamine level increases in individuals in love”

Stating that psychological research has determined that it affects the chemical balance in the brain, Dr. Esra Gül Koçyiğit said that love is both an emotional and biological process. “Love affects chemicals such as serotonin, dopamine and noradrenaline in the brain. While dopamine levels increase in individuals in love, fluctuations occur in serotonin levels. This manifests itself with symptoms such as excitement, enthusiasm and increased energy.”

Fidelity Hormones Oxytocin and Vasopressin

Stating that one of the most important hormones that ensure the continuity of love is oxytocin, Dr. Esra Gül Koçyiğit; “Oxytocin is a hormone that increases the feeling of love, commitment and trust. Physical contact between partners supports the secretion of this hormone and contributes to strengthening the relationship. In addition, another hormone called vasopressin is secreted, which increases the commitment of couples in love. Thus, the commitment of partners to each other increases. So we can also call oxytocin and vasopressin hormones loyalty hormones.”

“Partners must respect individual boundaries”

Dr. Koçyiğit from Altınbaş University stated that the cornerstones of a long-term, healthy relationship are mutual trust, respect and protection of individual spaces and made the following recommendations:

- Partners should respect each other's individual boundaries

- Relationships built on trust and understanding last longer

- Being aware of emotional and biological processes plays an important role in building healthy relationships

- Love is a liberating emotion and should be nurtured with mutual support and empathy

“Obsessive love can be dangerous”

According to Dr. Koçyiğit, understanding the difference between true love and addiction plays a critical role in a healthy relationship. “Love is an emotion that grows on the basis of mutual respect, trust and individual freedom. However, in some cases, this feeling can turn into an uncontrolled obsession and the person can harm both themselves and their partner,” he said.

Emphasizing that in the case of obsessive love, serotonin levels in the brain decrease while dopamine and noradrenaline levels increase, Dr. Koçyiğit stated that this can leave the person alone with anxiety, doubt and the need for control. Dr. Koçyiğit drew attention to the scientifically observed links between obsessive-compulsive disorder and love.

What are the symptoms of pathological love?

Dr. Koçyiğit emphasized some basic symptoms of obsessive love and gave the following warnings:

- Inability to tolerate separation from the partner, constant need to see and hear from them

- An intense need for control that restricts the partner's individual space

- Ignoring the other person's individuality and basing the relationship on absolute unity

- Jealousy and possessiveness are carried to the next level

- Efforts to be involved in every aspect of the partner's life and the dominance of the thought “I can't live without him/her”

“Obsessive love” requires psychological support

Stating that these symptoms can harm the individual and the relationship over time, Dr. Koçyiğit said, “Obsessive love can reduce the quality of life of the person and may require psychological support. If the individual is aware of this situation and wants to manage a healthy relationship process, it would be beneficial to get support from a professional expert.”

Finally, Dr. Koçyiğit emphasized that love is a liberating and developmental emotion, “A healthy relationship is built on mutual trust, respect and recognition of individual spaces. When true love turns into an obsession that is compulsive and violates boundaries, love has been replaced by a psychological addiction.”