May 2016 PMID 27242601

Intense, Passionate, Romantic Love: A Natural Addiction? How the Fields That Investigate Romance and Substance Abuse Can Inform Each Other.

Helen E Fisher, Xiaomeng Xu, Arthur Aron, Lucy L Brown

Mentions

112
Peak: 10 in Sep 2021
across 5 sources since Jul 2019

Extended reach

1,282,137
potential audience

Total likes

24,554

Video views

566,339

Mentions per month

Jul 2019 – Oct 2025

Where it's discussed

  • News62 articles
  • X / Twitter24 posts
  • Blogs14 articles
  • YouTube8 videos
  • Facebook4 posts

AI synopsis

What people are saying

Discussions reveal a positive reception, emphasizing the scientific exploration of love as an addiction, with references to hormones like serotonin and dopamine, and mention of neuroimaging studies, illustrating both interest and potential impact on understanding human relationships and addiction treatments.

AgreementModerate agreement

Most posts acknowledge the parallels between romantic love and addiction, showing general support for the publication’s ideas.

InterestHigh interest

Posts exhibit high curiosity, referencing multiple studies, hormones, and neurochemical insights, indicating strong engagement with the topic.

EngagementModerate engagement

Some discussions go beyond surface-level views, mentioning specific research methods and scientific terms, reflecting moderate to deep involvement.

ImpactModerate impact

The discourse suggests that the article influences perceptions of love and addiction, highlighting neurobiological underpinnings that could inform therapies.

Abstract in brief

  • Romantic love shares many similarities with addiction, including symptoms like euphoria, craving, tolerance, dependence, withdrawal, and relapse.
  • Brain scans show that intense romantic love activates reward areas in the brain, such as the dopaminergic ventral tegmental area, which are also involved in drug and behavioral addictions.
  • Because romantic love can reduce drug craving and promote calm attachment, it suggests that positive, rewarding social experiences and long-term relationships might be useful in developing therapies for addiction.]

Top posts

Most liked on X and Bluesky
Fabricio Ballarini
@FabBallarini · X

En la primera etapa de enamoramiento, la serotonina y la dopamina producen síntomas de adicción a una droga: euforia, deseo, tolerancia, dependencia emocional y física, abstinencia y recaída. #InfoDeLaBuena https://t.co/j40Z8IXMzw https://t.co/gPmOwNA3Jo

Sep 30, 2021 · 52 likes · 6 shares · 126,991 followers View post →
Eduardo Calixto
@ecalixto · X

Referencia Fisher H et al Front Psychol. 2016 May 10; 7:687. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2016.00687.

Dec 27, 2022 · 20 likes · 3 shares · 186,815 followers View post →
El Loco de la Ciencia ⌬
@mig_tian · X

https://t.co/qRnZDHa3gE

Feb 14, 2023 · 4 likes · 42,667 followers View post →
Adictdual
@adictdual · X

“Intense, Passionate, Romantic Love: A Natural Addiction? How the Fields That Investigate Romance and Substance Abuse Can Inform Each Other.” Fisher HE, Xu X, Aron A, Brown LL. Los mecanismos solapados entre enamoramiento y adicción.- https://t.co/2rvnGZAfmL

May 18, 2022 · 2 likes · 200 followers View post →
Joan Cwaik
@JoanCwaik · X

En la primera etapa de enamoramiento, la serotonina y la dopamina producen síntomas de adicción a una droga: euforia, deseo, tolerancia, dependencia emocional y física, abstinencia y recaída.  #InfoDeLaBuena https://t.co/LJFsok6alX

Sep 30, 2021 · 1 like · 12,783 followers View post →
Vᥱbᥙᥣιᥒ
@Vebulin · X

En la primera etapa de enamoramiento, la serotonina y la dopamina producen síntomas de adicción a una droga: euforia, deseo, tolerancia, dependencia emocional y física, abstinencia y recaída. #InfoDeLaBuena https://t.co/G6wo9UIhLA https://t.co/kgWFsGDdX7

Sep 30, 2021 · 1 like · 916 followers View post →

All mentions

Understanding the Difference Between Love and Crushes

Do you have a crush or feelings for someone? Learn how to distinguish between infatuation, attraction, and love, and explore how intense romantic feelings share similarities with addiction, activating reward areas in…

Psych2Go · Jan 30, 2022 461,547 views

The Neurochemical Link Between Romantic Love and OCD

Falling in love causes a hormonal rush that can feel incredible. Recent research shows that romantic love and OCD both involve lower serotonin transporter levels in platelets, suggesting shared brain mechanisms related…

DR. FLOJO · Mar 21, 2021 5,321 views

The Neurochemistry and Dependency of Love

Love shares similarities with addiction, involving euphoria, craving, and dependence. Brain scans reveal that intense romantic love activates reward areas like the dopaminergic ventral tegmental area, which are also…

Supposte Mentali · Jul 13, 2025 1,913 views
MarcoGervasoni
@IlGervasoni · X

Intense, Passionate, Romantic Love: A Natural Addiction? How the Fields That Investigate Romance and Substance Abuse Can Inform Each Other - PMC https://t.co/PfbZzhWSLG

Feb 14, 2024 · 2,093 followers View post →
HiggsBoson
@delayedhobo · X

https://t.co/Eof35tDEHo

Mar 19, 2023 · 2,604 followers View post →
El Loco de la Ciencia ⌬
@mig_tian · X

https://t.co/qRnZDHa3gE

Feb 14, 2023 · 4 likes · 42,667 followers View post →
Miguel Angel Ruiz
@Mars_777 · X

RT @ecalixto: Referencia Fisher H et al Front Psychol. 2016 May 10; 7:687. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2016.00687.

Dec 29, 2022 · 3 shares · 2,615 followers View post →
Dr. Feelgood
@EduardoArturoE2 · X

RT @ecalixto: Referencia Fisher H et al Front Psychol. 2016 May 10; 7:687. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2016.00687.

Dec 28, 2022 · 3 shares · 109 followers View post →
Eduardo Calixto
@ecalixto · X

Referencia Fisher H et al Front Psychol. 2016 May 10; 7:687. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2016.00687.

Dec 27, 2022 · 20 likes · 3 shares · 186,815 followers View post →
Berkeley International
@BerkeleyIntl · X

The early stage of intense romantic love shows many symptoms of addictions, including euphoria, craving, tolerance, emotional and physical dependence, withdrawal and relapse. Romantic love is a natural (and positive) addiction ❤️ @FrontiersIn https://t.co/XldcqVUbeD https://t.co/O0l3VrQ6cB

Aug 25, 2022 · 1,409 followers View post →
Adictdual
@adictdual · X

“Intense, Passionate, Romantic Love: A Natural Addiction? How the Fields That Investigate Romance and Substance Abuse Can Inform Each Other.” Fisher HE, Xu X, Aron A, Brown LL. Los mecanismos solapados entre enamoramiento y adicción.- https://t.co/2rvnGZAfmL

May 18, 2022 · 2 likes · 200 followers View post →
What Jesus?
@WhatJesus74 · X

@Alex_invictus20 @BrandonMarlett We can detect an increase in certain circulating hormones & other chemicals when a person reports feelings of intense love. So we can at least show a correlation between the hormones & the feelings. https://t.co/3rpIQABcMv

Dec 16, 2021 · 1 like · 506 followers View post →
Nico
@nicolasperucho · X

RT @FabBallarini: En la primera etapa de enamoramiento, la serotonina y la dopamina producen síntomas de adicción a una droga: euforia, des…

Sep 30, 2021 · 6 shares · 306 followers View post →
Juli
@Juliet32_ · X

RT @FabBallarini: En la primera etapa de enamoramiento, la serotonina y la dopamina producen síntomas de adicción a una droga: euforia, des…

Sep 30, 2021 · 6 shares · 576 followers View post →
julia cepeda
@julycepeda · X

RT @FabBallarini: En la primera etapa de enamoramiento, la serotonina y la dopamina producen síntomas de adicción a una droga: euforia, des…

Sep 30, 2021 · 6 shares · 233 followers View post →
Chequeado
@Chequeado · X

En la primera etapa de enamoramiento, la serotonina y la dopamina producen síntomas de adicción a una droga: euforia, deseo, tolerancia, dependencia emocional y física, abstinencia y recaída. https://t.co/ZGXedLhTUQ https://t.co/uwhUXDGF3r

Sep 30, 2021 · 332,403 followers View post →
Vᥱbᥙᥣιᥒ
@Vebulin · X

En la primera etapa de enamoramiento, la serotonina y la dopamina producen síntomas de adicción a una droga: euforia, deseo, tolerancia, dependencia emocional y física, abstinencia y recaída. #InfoDeLaBuena https://t.co/G6wo9UIhLA https://t.co/kgWFsGDdX7

Sep 30, 2021 · 1 like · 916 followers View post →
Agus
@Agustincz1 · X

RT @FabBallarini: En la primera etapa de enamoramiento, la serotonina y la dopamina producen síntomas de adicción a una droga: euforia, des…

Sep 30, 2021 · 6 shares · 222 followers View post →
Joan Cwaik
@JoanCwaik · X

En la primera etapa de enamoramiento, la serotonina y la dopamina producen síntomas de adicción a una droga: euforia, deseo, tolerancia, dependencia emocional y física, abstinencia y recaída.  #InfoDeLaBuena https://t.co/LJFsok6alX

Sep 30, 2021 · 1 like · 12,783 followers View post →
LM
@Leprlis · X

En la primera etapa de enamoramiento, la serotonina y la dopamina producen síntomas de adicción a una droga: euforia, deseo, tolerancia, dependencia emocional y física, abstinencia y recaída.  #InfoDeLaBuena https://t.co/ba66N1WPmv

Sep 30, 2021 · 69 followers View post →
Lady Rochirrim - 100% ⭐⭐⭐
@mafidoombeats · X

RT @FabBallarini: En la primera etapa de enamoramiento, la serotonina y la dopamina producen síntomas de adicción a una droga: euforia, des…

Sep 30, 2021 · 6 shares · 347 followers View post →
Fabricio Ballarini
@FabBallarini · X

En la primera etapa de enamoramiento, la serotonina y la dopamina producen síntomas de adicción a una droga: euforia, deseo, tolerancia, dependencia emocional y física, abstinencia y recaída. #InfoDeLaBuena https://t.co/j40Z8IXMzw https://t.co/gPmOwNA3Jo

Sep 30, 2021 · 52 likes · 6 shares · 126,991 followers View post →
Hernan Inojosa
@HernanInojosa · X

Interesantísimo, en especial para quienes tengan interés en neurociencias y conductas sociales. https://t.co/qPEEn8DNHu

Jul 14, 2021 · 513 followers View post →
Ton (presque) ami
@karchsl · X

@ZAlphagirl @GabiAstro @canope_72 Dans ma recherche j'ai croisé quelques papiers de recherche, et je confirme que j'aime pas la psychologie, trop fourre-tout à mon goût. Exemple : 10.3389/fpsyg.2016.00687 Pour voir vite-fait les effets de l'amour sur le cerveau, une publi très courte : 10.3389/fnhum.2015.00191

Oct 23, 2020 · 546 followers View post →
よく見れば医学生
@igakusei_mireba · X

Intense, Passionate, Romantic Love: A Natural Addiction? How the Fields That Investigate Romance and Substance Abuse Can Inform Each Other. Fisher et al, 2016

Nov 5, 2019 · 279 followers View post →
keme latik /⁠ᐠ⁠。⁠ꞈ⁠。⁠ᐟ⁠\ ✧₊
@xiumin_pogi · X

For further reading, it's here: https://t.co/ShlOUb8IO2

Sep 29, 2019 · 1 like · 116 followers View post →
Kariova
@pKariova · X

@ilucasouza Dá uma olhada nesse artigo dela aqui: https://t.co/WBanEvxvFq

Jul 21, 2019 · 393 followers View post →