Reading the Feb 2006 National Geographic and came across this article.
Although the article is about love and staying in love and absolutely not about affairs, I thought it might shed some light why biologically people 'stray'.
"Novelty triggers dopamine in the brain, which stimulates feeling of attraction. So riding a roller coaster on the first date is more likely to lead to second and thrid dates".
'Studies around the world confirm that, indeed, passion usually ends. Its conclusion is as common as its initial flare. .." "Biologically speaking, the reasons romantic love fades may be found in the way our brains respond to the surge and pulse of dopamine that accompanies passion and makes us fly."
The end of the article talks about the researcher recruiting a group of men and women and "put opposite sex pairs in rooms together, instructing each pair to perform a series of tasks, which included telling each other personal details about themselves. He then asked each couple to stare into each other's eyes for two minutes. After this encounter, Aron found most of the couples, previously strangers to each other, reported feelings of attraction. In fact, one couple went on to marry." This exercise apparently works wonders for some couples.
Don't most affairs start with the individuals involved exchanging personal info to each other?? And isn't an A, novel??
So, lets flip the equation and try to make the novelty work for us and our WS. Do 'novel' things together, because novelty trigger dopamine...
In times of stress, lock up tight and hold your partner.
I found the article interesting and maybe you will too.
Now, I'm off to book a 'novel' balloon ride for my H and me...
tee hee.
Have a good night,
Lola
This message has been edited by wow3 on Jan 26, 2006 11:55 PM
The article is really long...something like 10 pages. I had read half of it so far in my leisure time between customers at the pizzeria last Friday. Maybe I will get the time to finish it.
My MC told me about the high that the brain produces...likened it to drugs...lasts 3 to 6 months and then slowly decreases...I will look for article later.
