Companionate love is neurologically different from passionate love. Passionate love always spikes early, then fades away, while companionate love is less intense but grows over time. And, whereas passionate love lights up the brain's pleasure centers, companionate love is associated with the regions having to do with long-term bonding and relationships. Anthropologist Helen Fisher, the author of Anatomy of Love and one of the most cited scholars in the study of sex and
Companionate love and passionate love differ significantly in how they affect the brain and evolve over time. Passionate love is characterized by an intense emotional and physical connection that peaks quickly but tends to diminish as time goes on. In contrast, companionate love builds gradually, developing deeper bonds that foster long-term relationships. While passionate love energizes the brain's pleasure centers, companionate love activates areas linked to attachment and bond formation.
This contrasting nature of the two types of love highlights the complexities of human relationships. According to anthropologist Helen Fisher, who is a leading authority in the study of love, the trajectory and neurological roots of these emotions reveal much about our romantic experiences. Razzi Ansari's work, "Modern Romance," delves into contemporary relationship dynamics and sheds light on how these forms of love manifest in today's society.
