hello!

I am Michaea Vaughn
Welcome to my Passage presentation about Love
from the perspective of Natural and Social Science

Is Love Objective: A
Scientific & Social
Exploration of Romantic
Love

Introduction
Overarching Question:

What is the difference

between the definitions of
love from the perspectives
of both natural and social
sciences?

Why am I interested?

globally diverse practices &

perspectives
universal feeling/emotion
relevant to adolescents and
young adults
love obsessed society


..Romantic love can be objectively understood
through science, however love can also be
understood subjectively through the cultural norms
of the person experiencing it..

Activity Part I
What is love?

Vocab

Objective

Subjective

Neurotransmitter.

Fact based judgement.

Emotion based
judgement.

Chemical substances
mostly related to
general human
function.

1.
Natural Science
Chemistry, Biology, Neuroscience

Natural Science

Theories
Helen Fisher
Parts of the Brain
Neurotransmitters & Hormones

Helen Fishers Three Stages

first:
lust

second:
attraction

last:
attachment

Theories

Spearman

Thomson

Thurstone

Sternberg

Evolutionary

Stendhal

Sternbergs Triangular Theory

Three Opposing Theories

want big impact?

Use big image

Parts of the Brain

Phase I

Hypothalamus
Pituitary Gland

Phase II

Ventral Tegmental
Area (VTA)
Medial Prefrontal
Cortex

Phase III

Ventral Pallidum

Neurotransmitters & Hormones

Testosterone &
Estrogen

Adrenaline

PEA

A stress hormone.

A neurotransmitter with positive

effects.

Oxytocin

Dopamine

Serotonin

This is a bonding hormone.

A neurotransmitter that controls

the reward center of the
brain..

A neurotransmitter that
maintains mood balance.

Testosterone is a male hormone.

Estrogen is a female hormone.

1.
Social Science/ Humanities
Psychology, Sociology, Anthropology

Whats in a word: Words used to describe/discuss love

Ancient Greece

6 words

United States

1 word

India

3 words

Culture vs. Circumstance

Culture

United States
India

Circumstance

Media & Technology

family of origin

Lava
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uh4dTLJ9q9o

Domains of Global Competency

Communicating
Ideas

Investigate the
World

Recognizing
Perspectives

Reflection
What have I learned? How did I grow as a person?

Sources

Hatfield, Elaine, R. William Doherty, Kari Thompson, and Patricia Choo. "Cultural and Ethnic Influences
on Love and Attachment." (n.d.): n. pag. University of Hawai'i. University of Hawai'i, 1994. Web. 24
Nov. 2015. <http://www2.hawaii.edu/~elaineh/89.pdf
"Triangular Norms." SpringerReference (2011): n. pag. Hofstra University. 2011. Web. 28 Sept. 2015.
<http://www.hofstra.edu/pdf/community/slzctr/stdcsl/stdcsl_triangular.pdf>.
Kremmel, Lindsey Marie. "Preschool Children's Understanding of Love: Its Relationship with
Attachment Security and Social Competence." Google Books. Seattle Pacific University, May 2008. Web.
09 Dec. 2015.

Kline, Susan L., Brian Horton, and Shangyue Zhang. Www.elsevier.com/locate/ijintrel Communicating
Love: Comparisons between American and East Asian University Students (2008): n. pag. Harvard
University. Harvard University, 31 Jan. 2008. Web. 24 Nov. 2015. <http://isites.harvard.edu/fs/docs/icb.
topic1063342.files/Communicating%20Love_%20Comparing%20American%20and%20Easter%
20Asian%20University%20Students.pdf>.

Activity Part II
Now that youve seen the whole presentation,
What is love?

thanks!

Any questions?

Credits

Special thanks to all the people who helped me

through this process:
Committee Members
Ms. Rivera

Thank you for watching