There was a time when people didn’t think it was appropriate to conduct research on love – it was seen as a magical emotional experience that should not be tarnished by scientific inquiry.

Indeed, love is a complex emotional, relational, psychological and biological experience. Feelings of love can bring together joy, gratitude, appreciation, and fulfillment. With social affirmation and connectivity, love promotes wellness through interpersonal affection, social support and someone to share life experiences. But love is also associated with biological processes, including the release of ‘love’ hormones, such as oxytocin and vasopressin, and evokes brain changes that release neurotransmitters associated with reward and pleasure (e.g., dopamine). Being in positive, loving relationships can improve immune system functioning and even cardiovascular health.

While many of these benefits to love – or close social bonding – are evident in animals, among humans there are psychological factors that can increase vulnerability associated with love. Feelings of rejection, toxic relationships characterized by abuse, jealousy or co-dependence, or feelings of grief following the loss of a loved one (which is experienced by non-human animals as well) undermine wellness and promote depression, anxiety and trauma.

The key is finding a healthy balance between the strength of the emotional connection and autonomy that enables both social and individual resilience.