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Love Sense

Love Sense

The Revolutionary New Science of Romantic Relationships
by Sue Johnson 2013 352 pages
4.10
2k+ ratings
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Key Takeaways

1. Love is a Survival Imperative, Not Just an Emotion

All the research agrees that a stable, loving relationship is the absolute cornerstone of human happiness and general well-being.

Beyond Romance. Love, far from being a mere emotion, is a fundamental survival code deeply ingrained in our biology. It's not just about romance; it's about the essential connections that ensure our well-being. This perspective shifts love from a luxury to a necessity, highlighting its role in our physical and mental health.

Health and Longevity. Studies show that loving relationships are better for our health than careful diets or vitamins. Consistent emotional support lowers blood pressure, bolsters the immune system, and reduces the death rate from diseases like cancer and heart disease. A good relationship is the single best recipe for good health and the most powerful antidote to aging.

Civilized Society. Love is also the cornerstone of a civilized society, teaching trust, empathy, and cooperation. Stable, loving relationships create families that instill these crucial skills, ensuring the continuation of a harmonious and supportive community. Love, therefore, is the lifeblood of our species and our world.

2. Attachment Styles Shape Our Love Relationships

Adult romantic love is an attachment bond, just like the one between mother and child.

Early Bonds. Our early relationships with caregivers shape our attachment styles, influencing how we approach and navigate adult love. These styles—secure, anxious, and avoidant—determine our expectations, behaviors, and emotional responses in romantic partnerships. Understanding these styles is crucial for fostering healthier connections.

Attachment Styles:

  • Secure: Comfortable with intimacy and independence.
  • Anxious: Fearful of abandonment, seeking constant reassurance.
  • Avoidant: Uncomfortable with closeness, suppressing emotions.

Dynamic Interactions. While attachment styles tend to be stable, they are not immutable. Romantic love can change us, and with the right partner, we can become more open and secure. Recognizing our own and our partner's attachment style can help us understand and navigate relationship dynamics more effectively.

3. Emotions are the Music of the Dance of Love

Strong emotion is the essence of love—and strong emotion is what has given love a bad rap.

Beyond Control. Emotions, often viewed with suspicion, are actually nature's efficient information-processing and signaling system, vital to our well-being. They guide us, motivate us, and communicate our deepest needs to our partners. Understanding and embracing the full spectrum of emotions, not just the positive ones, is essential for a fulfilling love relationship.

Fear and Love. Fear, in particular, plays a significant role in love relationships. The fear of rejection and abandonment triggers primal panic, driving us to seek connection and security. Recognizing and addressing these underlying fears is crucial for resolving conflicts and building trust.

Emotional Intelligence. Learning to tune in to our emotions and express them openly, in a way that evokes sympathy and support, is key to emotional intelligence in love relationships. This reciprocal process of emotional signaling creates a constant dance of meeting, parting, and finding each other again.

4. The Brain is Wired for Connection, Not Isolation

The brain is a profoundly social organ, oriented toward making and managing connection with others.

Social Brain. The brain is not an isolated entity but a profoundly social organ, shaped by and oriented toward connection. From infancy, our brains develop in response to loving interactions, forming neural pathways that influence our ability to form and maintain relationships throughout life.

Mirror Neurons. Mirror neurons allow us to feel what others are feeling, fostering empathy and understanding. These neurons fire when we observe someone else's actions or emotions, enabling us to connect on a deeper level and coordinate our responses.

Neurochemistry of Love. Oxytocin, the "cuddle hormone," promotes bonding and reduces fear, while dopamine creates feelings of elation and euphoria. These chemicals reinforce our attachment to loved ones, making us want to stay close and connected.

5. Sex is About Emotional Connection, Not Just Physical Intimacy

Sex is emotion in motion.

Beyond the Physical. Sex is not merely a physical act but a deeply emotional experience that reflects the quality of our connection with our partner. Attachment styles influence our motives for having sex, our sexual performance, and the impact of sex on our relationships.

Types of Sex:

  • Sealed-off sex: Self-centered, focused on physical sensation.
  • Solace sex: Anxious, seeking reassurance of love and worth.
  • Synchrony sex: Secure, intimate, and integrated with emotional needs.

Secure Attachment. Secure attachment leads to the best sex, characterized by emotional openness, responsiveness, and a willingness to explore and take risks. This kind of sex strengthens the bond between partners and fosters lasting intimacy.

6. Relationships Evolve Through Predictable Stages

All of us, from cradle to grave, are happiest when life is organized as a series of excursions, long or short, from the secure base provided by our attachment figure(s).

Dynamic Unions. Relationships are not static but evolve through predictable stages, each presenting unique challenges and opportunities for growth. These stages include:

  • Spellbound: Infatuation and obsession.
  • Formal Bonding: Explicit commitment and dependency.
  • Parenthood: Navigating the demands of raising children.
  • Mature Love: Adjusting to children leaving home and retirement.

Potential Bonding Crises. Each stage presents potential bonding crises that test the strength of the relationship. Recognizing these transitions and addressing the underlying attachment needs is crucial for maintaining a strong and lasting connection.

Secure Base. Throughout these stages, the need for a secure base remains constant. Partners must continue to provide emotional support, reassurance, and a sense of safety to navigate the challenges of life together.

7. Disconnection Follows Recognizable Patterns

Love never dies of a natural death...It dies of blindness and errors and betrayals.

Erosion and Rupture. Relationships can unravel through a gradual erosion of connection or a sudden shattering of trust. Both paths lead to a primal panic and the playing out of survival scripts, characterized by anger, withdrawal, and despair.

The Protest Polka. Distressed couples often fall into negative patterns, such as the demand-withdraw cycle, where one partner seeks connection through criticism and the other retreats into silence. This dance of disconnection perpetuates a sense of emotional starvation and attachment panic.

The Three E's:

  • Erosion: Gradual loss of attunement and responsiveness.
  • Escalation: Increasing conflict and negative patterns.
  • Emptiness: Hopelessness, despair, and detachment.

Attachment Injuries. Infidelity, betrayal, and other violations of trust can create deep wounds that shatter a partner's sense of safety and security. These injuries require intentional healing to restore the bond and rebuild trust.

8. Renewing Bonds Requires Emotional Responsiveness

To really help couples find happiness, we must shore up the foundation of their relationship; that is, help them relay and rebuild their emotional connection.

Beyond Skills. Renewing bonds is not just about acquiring communication skills but about creating a safe and secure emotional connection. This requires a willingness to be vulnerable, to share fears and longings, and to respond with empathy and care.

Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT). EFT helps couples recognize and dismantle destructive patterns, creating a more emotionally open and receptive way of interacting. This approach focuses on addressing the underlying attachment needs and fears that drive relationship distress.

Hold Me Tight Conversations. These transformative conversations involve:

  • Tuning in to softer emotions
  • Regulating emotions to stay open
  • Sending clear signals
  • Stating needs explicitly
  • Hearing and accepting the other's needs
  • Reacting with trust and positive emotion

9. Forgiveness is Key to Healing Relationship Injuries

I can’t forgive you until I see that you feel my pain. Until I know that my pain hurts you, too.

Attachment Injury Resolution Model (AIRM). Healing from traumatic injuries requires a structured approach that promotes forgiveness and the renewal of trust. The AIRM involves:

  • Acknowledging the pain and loss
  • Taking responsibility for the injury
  • Expressing remorse and regret
  • Sharing vulnerabilities and needs
  • Creating a new story of the relationship

Empathy and Validation. The injured partner needs to feel heard, understood, and validated. The injuring partner needs to demonstrate genuine remorse and a commitment to rebuilding trust.

Rebuilding Trust. Forgiveness is not about condoning the hurtful behavior but about releasing the resentment and anger that prevent healing. It is a process of rebuilding trust and creating a new, stronger bond based on mutual understanding and compassion.

10. Love Sense Can Build a Better Society

We are not created selfish; we are designed to be empathetic. Our innate tendency is to feel with and for others.

Beyond Individual Relationships. The principles of love sense extend beyond individual relationships to shape our society as a whole. Secure connection fosters empathy, compassion, and a sense of community, creating a more humane and just world.

Social Policies. Supportive workplace policies, such as paid parental leave and flexible work arrangements, can promote stronger families and communities. Investing in relationship education and mental health services can also help prevent relationship distress and promote well-being.

A New Consciousness. By recognizing the importance of emotional connection and prioritizing relationships, we can create a society that values empathy, cooperation, and the well-being of all its members. This new consciousness can guide us toward a more sustainable and fulfilling future.

Last updated:

FAQ

What's Love Sense about?

  • Exploration of Love: Love Sense by Sue Johnson delves into the science of romantic relationships, emphasizing that love is a vital survival mechanism, not just an emotion.
  • Attachment Theory: The book is grounded in attachment theory, which suggests that adult romantic love is an attachment bond similar to that between a mother and child.
  • Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT): Johnson introduces EFT as a method to help couples repair and strengthen their emotional bonds, supported by clinical studies and real-life examples.

Why should I read Love Sense?

  • Revolutionary Insights: The book challenges the notion that romantic relationships are inherently unstable, offering a fresh perspective on love through scientific understanding.
  • Practical Guidance: Readers will find practical advice and exercises to create and sustain loving relationships, making it a valuable resource for improving romantic life.
  • Addressing Loneliness: In a time of prevalent loneliness, Love Sense emphasizes the importance of secure attachments and emotional connections.

What are the key takeaways of Love Sense?

  • Love as Survival: Love is essential for human survival, acting as a protective bond that fosters emotional security.
  • Attachment Styles: The book outlines secure, anxious, and avoidant attachment styles and their influence on romantic relationships.
  • EFT's Effectiveness: Emotionally Focused Therapy is highlighted as a successful method for repairing relationships, with a 70-75% success rate.

What is Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) according to Love Sense?

  • Therapeutic Approach: EFT is a structured approach to couple therapy that focuses on creating a secure emotional bond between partners.
  • High Success Rate: Johnson notes that EFT has a 70-75% success rate in helping couples repair their relationships.
  • Practical Exercises: The book includes exercises based on EFT principles, allowing couples to engage in meaningful conversations that strengthen their emotional connection.

How does attachment theory relate to romantic relationships in Love Sense?

  • Foundation of Relationships: Attachment theory posits that early relationships with caregivers shape our ability to form emotional bonds in adulthood.
  • Three Attachment Styles: Secure, anxious, and avoidant attachment styles affect relationship dynamics and individual behaviors.
  • Impact on Behavior: Understanding attachment styles can help couples navigate their interactions more effectively.

How can couples improve their emotional connection according to Love Sense?

  • Open Conversations: Couples should prioritize open and honest discussions about their feelings and needs to foster understanding and intimacy.
  • Active Listening: Listening attentively without interrupting or judging shows that you value your partner's perspective.
  • Rituals of Connection: Establishing regular rituals, like date nights, helps couples reconnect and strengthen their bond.

What role does oxytocin play in relationships according to Love Sense?

  • Cuddle Hormone: Oxytocin promotes bonding and emotional connection, released during physical touch like hugging and intimacy.
  • Impact on Behavior: It reduces stress and anxiety, allowing individuals to feel more secure in their relationships.
  • Supports Monogamy: Oxytocin reinforces the bond between partners, encouraging prioritization of romantic connections.

How does Love Sense address the challenges of parenthood in relationships?

  • Transition Stress: The arrival of a child can strain relationships, often leading to decreased marital satisfaction.
  • Importance of Support: Partners need to support each other during this transition, as secure attachments help navigate parenthood challenges.
  • Impact on Children: The quality of the couple's relationship directly affects their children's emotional well-being.

What are the emotional dynamics discussed in Love Sense?

  • Emotions as Signals: Emotions serve as vital signals that guide behavior in relationships, enhancing communication and connection.
  • Fear and Vulnerability: Fear often underlies conflicts, leading to defensive behaviors; addressing these fears fosters emotional safety.
  • Empathy and Connection: Empathy is crucial for maintaining a healthy bond, as tuning into a partner's emotions fosters deeper connections.

How does Love Sense address the issue of divorce?

  • Rising Divorce Rates: Johnson discusses increasing divorce rates, particularly among older couples, reflecting changing attitudes toward marriage.
  • Importance of Emotional Bonds: Strong emotional bonds are essential for sustaining long-term relationships and preventing divorce.
  • Strategies for Prevention: The book offers strategies to strengthen emotional connections and address issues before they escalate.

What are some practical exercises included in Love Sense?

  • Experiments for Couples: The book features exercises to help couples explore emotional dynamics and improve their connection.
  • Reflective Practices: Reflective practices allow individuals to examine their attachment styles and emotional responses.
  • Building Emotional Safety: Exercises focus on creating a safe space for partners to express vulnerability and seek comfort.

What are the best quotes from Love Sense and what do they mean?

  • "Love is good sense.": Emphasizes that love is a logical and essential part of human existence, leading to healthier relationships.
  • "Unless you love someone, nothing else makes any sense.": Highlights love's centrality in life, providing meaning and purpose.
  • "Love consists in this, that two solitudes protect and touch and greet each other.": Reflects mutual support and connection, emphasizing emotional safety and responsiveness.

Review Summary

4.10 out of 5
Average of 2k+ ratings from Goodreads and Amazon.

Love Sense receives generally positive reviews, with readers praising Johnson's accessible writing style and scientific approach to understanding relationships. Many find the book insightful and helpful for improving their own relationships. Some criticize the heteronormative perspective and dismissal of non-monogamous relationships. Readers appreciate the focus on attachment theory and emotional connection. The book's examples and experiments receive mixed reactions. Overall, reviewers find the book informative and valuable for understanding the science behind love and relationships.

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About the Author

Dr. Sue Johnson is a renowned psychologist and the primary developer of Emotionally Focused Couple and Family Therapy (EFT). She has received numerous awards for her work, including the American Psychological Association's "Family Psychologist of the Year" and the Order of Canada. Johnson's best-selling book, Hold Me Tight, has sold over 1 million copies and inspired a relationship enhancement program. As the founding director of the International Centre for Excellence in Emotionally Focused Therapy, she trains counselors worldwide and oversees 80 affiliated centers. Johnson's work focuses on understanding adult attachment and improving couple relationships through emotional connection.

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