Arthur Aron

pick up when they looked at a picture of their partner versus a neutral friend. And we found that these people showed the same thing. They showed that activation of the dopamine reward area.

Well, it's an acquaintance that is of the same gender as their partner, as attractive as their partner. We test for all of that, and they look at the two pictures. I mean, they alternate the two, and we're looking at what goes on in their brain when they're looking at that one. This is exactly what we did in the initial study of people who'd just fallen in love.

Well, it's an acquaintance that is of the same gender as their partner, as attractive as their partner. We test for all of that, and they look at the two pictures. I mean, they alternate the two, and we're looking at what goes on in their brain when they're looking at that one. This is exactly what we did in the initial study of people who'd just fallen in love.

Well, it's an acquaintance that is of the same gender as their partner, as attractive as their partner. We test for all of that, and they look at the two pictures. I mean, they alternate the two, and we're looking at what goes on in their brain when they're looking at that one. This is exactly what we did in the initial study of people who'd just fallen in love.

We find that strong dopamine reward area. One other thing that we didn't find in the long term, we find an indication of anxiety, tension. You know, if you've just fallen in love with someone, you're likely to worry, are they going to leave me? Are some going to happen to them? Whereas if you've been with someone for 20 years, you don't worry about that as much.

We find that strong dopamine reward area. One other thing that we didn't find in the long term, we find an indication of anxiety, tension. You know, if you've just fallen in love with someone, you're likely to worry, are they going to leave me? Are some going to happen to them? Whereas if you've been with someone for 20 years, you don't worry about that as much.

We find that strong dopamine reward area. One other thing that we didn't find in the long term, we find an indication of anxiety, tension. You know, if you've just fallen in love with someone, you're likely to worry, are they going to leave me? Are some going to happen to them? Whereas if you've been with someone for 20 years, you don't worry about that as much.

Well, there's another area of the brain that has been found mostly in animals where they've got a lifelong bond, attachment bond. And we saw that also in the long-term couples. I mean, it's kind of natural if you've been together a while and your things are going well to have that kind of common security.

Well, there's another area of the brain that has been found mostly in animals where they've got a lifelong bond, attachment bond. And we saw that also in the long-term couples. I mean, it's kind of natural if you've been together a while and your things are going well to have that kind of common security.

Well, there's another area of the brain that has been found mostly in animals where they've got a lifelong bond, attachment bond. And we saw that also in the long-term couples. I mean, it's kind of natural if you've been together a while and your things are going well to have that kind of common security.

Well, overall, there's lots of research showing that relationships tend to decline over time. After 10 years, half of them, at least in the U.S., are divorced, or close to half. And overall, not for everybody, but they tend to decline. And so that seems to be what we think is the standard.

Well, overall, there's lots of research showing that relationships tend to decline over time. After 10 years, half of them, at least in the U.S., are divorced, or close to half. And overall, not for everybody, but they tend to decline. And so that seems to be what we think is the standard.

Well, overall, there's lots of research showing that relationships tend to decline over time. After 10 years, half of them, at least in the U.S., are divorced, or close to half. And overall, not for everybody, but they tend to decline. And so that seems to be what we think is the standard.

Yeah. When we did a U.S. nationally representative survey, we found that of people married 10 years or longer, 40% claim to be very intensely in love. Now, that means only 20% of those that got married that are still together. But still, that's more than we expected.

Yeah. When we did a U.S. nationally representative survey, we found that of people married 10 years or longer, 40% claim to be very intensely in love. Now, that means only 20% of those that got married that are still together. But still, that's more than we expected.

Yeah. When we did a U.S. nationally representative survey, we found that of people married 10 years or longer, 40% claim to be very intensely in love. Now, that means only 20% of those that got married that are still together. But still, that's more than we expected.

Well, there is findings, not from my lab, but from others, showing that one of the ways couples often feel good about themselves is by comparing to other couples. You know, you leave a party and say, oh, those people always argue. You know, we don't do that as much. But so it's kind of hard to then be told that, no, some people have really passionate relationships.

Well, there is findings, not from my lab, but from others, showing that one of the ways couples often feel good about themselves is by comparing to other couples. You know, you leave a party and say, oh, those people always argue. You know, we don't do that as much. But so it's kind of hard to then be told that, no, some people have really passionate relationships.

Well, there is findings, not from my lab, but from others, showing that one of the ways couples often feel good about themselves is by comparing to other couples. You know, you leave a party and say, oh, those people always argue. You know, we don't do that as much. But so it's kind of hard to then be told that, no, some people have really passionate relationships.

If you don't, as most people don't, it could be a little annoying. On the other hand, it's a reminder that maybe you could do something. We shouldn't just assume that there's nothing we can do. We should look for some way to make it more like that and not just go along with how things are.