WPL02073 – The Science of Attraction: An Exploration of the Physical, Chemical, and Psychological Components of Desire

Attraction, often the initial stage of romantic love, seems to work in mysterious ways. Have you ever been somewhere and see someone across the room that immediately catches your eye? Your body seems to react physically, your palms sweat, your heart races, you blush, and you may even stammer or tremble. Even after they have left your sight, you can’t get that person out of your mind.  Attraction and love can even overrule reason. Researchers have identified specific determinants of human attraction that stimulate our desire for another. Of course, the five senses play a role in who we find alluring. But there are also psychological factors contributing to the intense, sometimes haywire, feelings of attraction and desire. This lecture explores the why’s and how’s from a scientific perspective, demystifying the wonderfully magical experience of attraction.