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Romantic love more powerful than lust researchers say!
Many people mistakenly think that sex is the most powerful force pulling us into relationships. Science tells us that romantic love, a biological urge distinct from sexual arousal, is actually more powerful.
The truth is that the desire for romantic love can be stronger than the will to live and much stronger than your sex drive. So when we talk about the important role that chemistry plays in picking a partner, we're actually on the mark. Love produces some of the most powerful drugs on Earth, and it all happens in our own brains and without ever taking a pill.
Researchers, such as Helen Fisher, author of "Why We Love," have determined that there are distinct neural mechanisms of romantic love, which differ greatly from sexual attraction. Brain-scan studies show that romantic love activates places in the brain that have a high concentration of receptors for dopamine, a chemical tied to motivation, euphoria and addiction.
Yes, this chemical is the same one that gets triggered by certain stimulant drugs. So when you go through a breakup and the supply is cut off, you actually go through a type of withdrawal, and this is why it can be so hard to let go of the person you love.
When we do find someone we click with, we want to believe it will last forever, and for a lucky few it will. Unfortunately, science tells us that for the vast majority of couples, this feeling will only last from one to three years. After that time, we (let's hope) begin to appreciate our commonality, rely on communication and relax in the compassion of our relationships.
Additional studies by the University of San Francisco and professor Rebecca Turner show that another brain chemical, oxytocin, also gets released. This usually occurs after couples have been in a secure relationship. A rise in the level of oxytocin comes from being touched. It makes us want to be physically close, not just sexual. It heightens the feeling of bonding and can increase intimacy and receptiveness.
The research also showed oxytocin at higher levels in women who were involved in committed relationships. The presence of this chemical also helps us to understand why men tend to feel more intimate after sex because that's when their oxytocin reaches it peak.
These chemically based changes won't diminish your capacity for love. Think of them more as additions to what you already have. Feeling completely connected and cared for is really what intimate relationships are all about.
Even though your sexual desire may decrease in intensity, your natural need for a romantic connection will continue for many years to come. Brain chemistry may get love started, but the real keys to lasting relationships are found in your heart and soul. Many people mistakenly think that sex is the most powerful force pulling us into relationships. Science tells us that romantic love, a... more -
We Are Not Born Gay, Sweedish Twin study Shows
Identical twins develop when one fertilized egg separates into two individuals. As such, identical twins have nearly identical DNA. Researchers study the concordance of a trait in identical twins to see whether or not a trait is genetically-linked. In a concordant pair of twins, both show the same characteristic.
Twin studies that have been conducted to date actually demonstrate that homosexuality is not genetic. As Dr. Neil Whitehead notes, “In a nutshell, if you take pairs of identical twins in which one twin is homosexual, the identical co-twin is usually not homosexual. That means, given that identical twins are always genetically identical, homosexuality cannot be genetically dictated. No-one is born gay
In general, twin studies show that when one male identical twin is gay-identified, the other will be gay-identified one time in nine, or only 11% of the time. The percentages are similar for female homosexuality. If homosexual behavior, attractions and identity were completely genetic, the similarity would be closer to 100%. What this tells us is that same-sex attracted twins are not born that way. Thus, within a pair of identical twins – where one twin has same-sex attractions – the other will have opposite-sex attractions eight out of nine times.
So what about this 2008 Swedish twin study ?
The study of twins and homosexuality was touted in a press release as “the largest in the world so far.” The authors said that “more than 7,600 Swedish twins….responded to a 2005-2006 survey of health, behaviour, and sexuality.” I
In their analysis:
Only 7 pairs of male identical twins were found where both had any same-sex partner in their lifetime;
Only 26 pairs of female identical twins were found where both had any same-sex partner in their lifetime;
Only 64 pairs of identical male twins were found where only 1 of the pair had any same-sex partners;
And only 188 pairs of identical female twins were found where only 1 of the pair had any same-sex partners. (10)
Significantly, their data show a very low number of identical twin pairs who had both engaged in same-sex behaviors. The data also show a very low concordance rate (where both twins show the same trait) – less then 10% for the males and slightly over 12% for the females. Again, the study points to what we already know: there is a low concordance rate for homosexuality among identical twins, and the main factors in homosexuality are not genetic.
Click on the link for more details Identical twins develop when one fertilized egg separates into two individuals. As such, identical twins have nearly identical DNA. Re... more -
Children Raised by Homosexuals are 7 times more likely to be Gays or Bisexuals
This review is a survey of nine studies (click on the link for details)
Based on the average found in the following nine studies, 14% of children raised by homosexual parents develop homosexual or bisexual preferences. These studies reported rates of non-heterosexuality ranging from 8% to 21%. The most frequently reported percentages were 14% and 16% (two studies each). For comparison purposes, data from the best national surveys report that approximately 2% of the general population is non-heterosexual (Laumann, Gagnon, Michael, and Michaels,1994). Therefore, if these percentages hold true in better designed studies, children raised by homosexuals appear to be about seven times more likely to develop homosexual or bisexual preferences than children raised by heterosexuals. And, as was explained earlier, 14% may be an under-estimate due to the young ages of many of the subjects in these studies.
The nine studies surveyed are reviewed and include the authors' abstracts or descriptions provided by others, followed by her comments and/or analysis. They are presented in alphabetical order This review is a survey of nine studies (click on the link for details) ... more -
Cadavers used to practice plastic surgery, and in other odd sciences
The book Stiff by Mary Roach, tells of unexpecting uses for dead bodies.
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Global Warming Doomsday Called Off
This movie (not a clip) broadcast by Reason TV (not me) critiques the widespread and policitized doomsdayist viewpoint centered around the negative effects of global warming. The gist of the movie is that much of today's political motivation to reduce greenhouse emissions is based on poorly programmed computer modeling. The movie states that the models are flawed because those who programmed them had incomplete knowledge of how global climate change really works. Scientists in the movie take aim at the widely accepted "hockey stick" depiction of the recent spike in global temperature, claim that sea levels are actually dropping, not rising, and tell us that, when measured from the surrounding atmosphere, global temperature fluctuations are not as dramatic as those measured on the ground, where temperatures may be influenced by heat relfected by surrounding buildings and pavement. This movie (not a clip) broadcast by Reason TV (not me) critiques the widespread and policitized doomsdayist viewpoint centered around... more
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