Apparently "obsession" is a form of madness. Research using brain scans has also shown that being "in love", suffering from obsessive compulsive disorder and being addicted to drugs activate the same areas of the brain.
Is it any wonder then that there are so many errors of judgement in marriage decisions and relationship breakdowns - because of the intensity of such in-lust feelings or when the reduction of such intensity is misinterpreted as having "fallen out of love"?
Maybe we should all take up the study of biochemistry. If we understood our bio-chemical reaction to others for what it was it would certainly spare us a lot of pain and heartache.
Professor Larry Young, of Emory University in Atlanta, suggests that if the secrets of love are unlocked, the path is then clear for finding ways of enhancing it. He suggests that: "Genetic tests for the suitability of potential partners will one day become available, the results of which could accompany, and even over-ride our gut instincts in selecting the prefect partner".
I don't think so somehow, despite the trauma and expense of divorce. Whilst I find trying to understand the pattern, the process of love and how it evolves fascinating, I suspect that we would find reducing it to that level of "science" all a bit too clinical. We would still prefer to live our love lives in this fog of "romantic mystery".
What if I were able to slip a "love potion" in her drink - and if I could - would she realise that's all it was, would she care?
But I think I would care!
