Romantic love 'lasts just a year'

[Nerthus]

Romantic love 'lasts just a year'

Some couples may disagree, but romantic love lasts little more than a year, Italian scientists believe.

The University of Pavia found a brain chemical was likely to be responsible for the first flush of love.

Researchers said raised levels of a protein was linked to feelings of euphoria and dependence experienced at the start of a relationship.

But after studying people in long and short relationships and single people, they found the levels receded in time.

[...]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/4478040.stm

[Milesian]

It's true

[Menydh]

It is not.

When my grandmother died, my grandfather lost all reason to live. He started smoking again, as he wanted to die. (Suicide is, of course, not an option for a Catholic).

Fortunately for us but unfortunately for him, he outlived my grandmother many years. He had family antecedents of longevity.

My uncles' wives wanted him to marry, with a widowed woman to accompany each other. And there were quite a lot of candidates in town who would have loved it, as he was a finest, most likeable, and very handsome gentleman. He didn't take offense easily, but I believe that this one offended him much.

Right after lunch everyday and for the rest of his days, he would sit on his armchair and close his eyes. For many years I thought that he slept, and I wondered how he could sleep so much, and then during the nights. One day he told me the truth. He did not sleep. He closed his eyes, and remembered the moments with my grandmother and her face as if she was still there. Then, he told me, those hours of the days he was happy.

If that's not a supreme act of Romanticism, then nothing is. To hell with funds-wasting pseudo-scientists.

[Breogan]

Funny thing scientists? "investigating" an idea created in the 18th century Germany.
What about studying how to cure cancer or anything useful instead of investigating nonsense?

[Milesian]

That would be far too useful, Breogan. We can't have them doing anything remotely useful, that's just not part of the rules

[Strengthandhonour]

they seem to have solid evidence to back it up, but I just don't buy it. I have seen people crazy over one another for many years(Including relatives)

[bocian]

I think they are confusing love with something not unlike enfatuation. Sure, after many years the 'euphoria' passes, but not genuine love, as it tends to grow with the passing years.

[Nerthus]

Originally Posted by Breogan

What about studying how to cure cancer or anything useful instead of investigating nonsense?

People love to study and reasearch practically anything

Originally Posted by Strengthandhonour

they seem to have solid evidence to back it up, but I just don't buy it. I have seen people crazy over one another for many years(Including relatives)

Of course. Even if it were true, it would be a general thing and thus there would be exceptions.

However, I don't think it's love per se that "dies". It's the euphoria state - the first times together in a relationship, the butterflies in the stomach, the sweaty palms, the nervousness one feels. In that case "romantic love" ("acute love" or maybe a crush, whatever one may call it) can be even shorter
Some people even use this "it's not like in the beginning anymore" reason to look for new partners and end a relationship, when it can be a very normal thing...

In fact the article itself states that love doesn't suddenly stop:

Report co-author Piergluigi Politi said the findings did not mean people were no longer in love, just that it was not such an "acute love".

"The love became more stable. Romantic love seemed to have ended."

I actually find it quite normal for an old couple not to get butterflies in the stomach after decades of living together

[Strengthandhonour]

Reminds me of this one time I was out with my father and his co-worker Victor..
We where at a restaurant and Victor is in his late 20's, he recieved a call from his girlfriend and you know, he was being sweet to her "Hi honey, ok ill bring you something I love you so much" etc etc. There was an elderly couple in the table next to ours. The woman poked the man's arm and demanded "How come you don't treat me that way anymore?" and he grined and asked my father's friend "Are you married yet?" and he said no. The man looked back at the woman and said "You just wait until he is, then you watch him call the woman hunnie and sweetie again!"

[Corvin]

8 Years and 1 kid

[Siegmund]

Originally Posted by Mynydd

One day he told me the truth. He did not sleep. He closed his eyes, and remembered the moments with my grandmother and her face as if she was still there. Then, he told me, those hours of the days he was happy.

Beautiful. And I have to agree that genuine romantic love never dies. Perhaps lust, but not love.

[Carnyx]

Butterflies in the stomach? Funny English image.

[Nerthus]

Yeah, it's an idiom:

Butterflies in the stomach is a medical condition characterized by the physical sensation of a "fluttery" (hence butterflies) feeling in the stomach. Some believe that this is caused by the release of epinephrine, or adrenaline, when one is nervous, pulling blood away from the stomach and sending it to the muscles. Butterflies in the stomach is most often experienced prior to important events, when stress is induced, but can be experienced in situations of impending danger.

http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionar...in+the+stomach

[snowwolfriv]

Not true, depends on the kind of love of course, but not in all situations it will only last one year. i know many people who are married for years but still have the romance.