Groundbreaking Study Reveals Physical and Emotional Aspects of Love Across 27 Types

Researchers at Aalto University have conducted an innovative study that maps how various types of love are physically and emotionally experienced within the body. The study encompassed 27 distinct forms of love, including romantic, sexual, parental, and love for nature or God, shedding light on the universality and distinctions of these emotions.

Key Findings:

Love types related to close relationships are the most strongly experienced.

All love types are prominently felt in the head.

Physical and mental intensity of love strongly correlates with pleasantness.

In this study, participants were asked to identify where they felt different types of love in their bodies and assess the physical and mental intensity of these feelings. The research, published in Philosophical Psychology, revealed that love types span a continuum from weaker to stronger sensations, with all types strongly manifesting in the head but varying in their spread throughout the body. The most potent forms of love were felt most extensively throughout the body.

To create this groundbreaking love map, researchers gathered data from hundreds of participants through an online survey, primarily comprising young women in higher education. The survey required participants to indicate where they experienced each type of love on a body silhouette, rate the intensity, pleasantness, and association with touch, and evaluate the closeness of each love type.

Philosopher Pärttyli Rinne, who coordinated the study, noted that love between individuals can be divided into sexual and non-sexual categories, and those closely related to each other often possess a sexual or romantic dimension. Furthermore, there was a strong connection between the physical and mental intensity of love and its pleasantness. Stronger physical sensations were associated with stronger emotional feelings, leading to greater overall pleasantness.

Interestingly, all the various types of love were felt in the head, but as the strength of the love diminished, the sensations in the chest area waned. Rinne suggested that less intensely experienced love, such as love for strangers or wisdom, may be linked to cognitive processes or pleasant sensations in the head. Cultural and demographic factors also influenced the experience of love, with potential variations in different communities or among parents.

Funding for this research was provided by the Kone Foundation, the Academy of Finland, and the Emil Aaltonen Foundation.

Exploring the Embodied Feelings of Love

Love, a complex and multifaceted phenomenon, has intrigued philosophers, psychologists, and neuroscientists for centuries. This study aimed to bridge the gap between philosophical distinctions and empirical experiences by investigating how different types of love are embodied and felt.

The research examined 27 diverse types of love, considering their subjective feelings, emotional valence, bodily and mental experiences, association with touch, and more. The study’s innovative approach provides valuable insights into the embodied experiences associated with various forms of love, revealing a continuum of emotional intensity.

This groundbreaking study not only enhances our understanding of love but also opens doors for further exploration into the connections between emotional experiences and the human body.