What is Love?

What is Love?

The general argument made by Helen Fisher, Ph.D. in her work, What is Love is that the human brain has evolved with three fundamental brain systems that relate to mating. The “three core brain systems… [are]: lust, romantic attraction, and attachment” (page 334). To be more specific, Fisher believes that “Romantic love is  a powerful physiological need, an urge, a motivation, an instinct that evolved specifically…to win a preferred mating partner” (page 335). Fisher is suggesting that this instinct has been around for centuries. She also goes on telling about how these instincts are in animals, too. Even though they might not be as strong and long lasting like human love, they still have that instinct like us. In closing, it is Fisher’s belief that love has three fundamental brain systems: lust, romantic attraction, and attachment.

                I see how Fisher believes that love is an instinct in humans. It’s obvious because if it weren’t for that intensifying feeling of lust, romantic attraction, ad attachment, no one on this planet would be here. I love Fisher’s quote, “When nature makes a good design, she uses it over and over” (page 334). I think she is right about this. If you take a look around, notice how many people are around you, but then think of all your ancestors and others that have been in previous centuries. Yes, it is overwhelming to think about, but think about it. We must be a “good design” (page 334) if billions of people were on the earth, and still there are plenty more to come. I also liked how she mentioned the fact that men and women are different species. Not only are we different physically, but mentally and emotionally. In a nutshell, she states that males are more visual, while women are more talkative and remember thing better than a man would. I conclude that Fisher has good claims about love.  The fact that she combined the human brain into her hypothesis is clever because that’s where these feelings start. It’s apparent that she has spent a lot of time studying this, and she seems to have a good argument on what love is.