Page 14 - Advanced Romance

Advanced Romance* 11
sexual railroading used in the advertising of fashion, of sweaters.
But when this free will argument is applied purely to mating, many believe that humanity’s highly developed frontal lobe has created impervious mental distance between us and other mammals.
My contention is that humans are greatly motivated by evolution’s commands to mate, albeit in relatively sophisticated ways. These ways include poetry, flowers and fast cars. But until lately evidence of evolution’s control in human mating and dating has been impossible to prove, despite Tennov’s efforts.
However, recent studies by Helen Fisher have shown the chemicals testosterone, dopamine, norepinephrine, oxytocin, vasopressin, and others flood human systems in what she calls the three stages of sexual love—lust, romance and attachment.11 She may have proven that forces produced by evolution have great power over human mating.
Such an assertion engenders immediate skepticism from incurable romantics the world over (of which I am one.) As noted, I believe that romantic love is one of the most powerful extant religions ... and it should be! Many people are “saved” by a life-transforming romantic relationship. They go from vast unhappiness to limitless happiness, or at least happy enough. The endless line of romance novels, movies and TV shows is some proof of it.