A QUIXOTIC THING, ROMANCE
LATELY, I have been delving into the dark sea of neurobiological “romance” that ebbs and tides so strongly about human relations, especially sex. In essence, romance is about assuring each other of conjugal safety, trust, fidelity and devotion while releasing the sexual tigers within. A quixotic, even paradoxical thing, romance. And it has to happen in the above sequence to be most effective and ultimately, satisfying, both in the short and long term.
The neurobiology of romance suggests that what is necessary is to first favor the parasympathetic (rest and relax) autonomic nervous system, in the process releasing the sympathetic (fight or flight) autonomic nervous system. Again, in that sequence. And that applies equally, though somewhat physically differently, to both partners.
The general biology now clear, we can focus on the emotional aspects of romance. First, however, it is important to distinguish between emotions and feelings. Emotions are purely hormonal. These hormones are released by one or a variety of “triggers,” typically sensual, but equally imaginative. At any rate, the most important hormones surrounding romance are released (“flooded”) into the bloodstream, where they elicit certain pre-programmed behaviors. Feelings, on the other hand, are sensed muscular contractions of both voluntary (striated) and involuntary (smooth) muscles. Emotions trigger a cascade of general behaviors; feelings are what each person “feels” as the result. So romance is the combination of emotions and feelings necessary, in the end, for short and long term conjugal satisfaction.
If all this sounds very unfeeling, unemotional and scientifically unexciting, then I apologize. While romance may be the result of of a cascade of pre-programmed neurobiological responses, these responses occur in real people who, in a complex dance together, decide, sometimes consciously, often unconsciously, whether to initiate and/or release these responses. There’s always choice, though it becomes less controlling as the emotions take over and feelings intensify. Choice, to be accurate, involves not only personal choices, but sociocultural and experiential choices as well.
In THE EDGE OF MADNESS (Aignos 2020) by Raymond Gaynor what changes after the TOTAL MELTDOWN (Borgo/Wildside 2009) by Raymond Gaynor and William Maltese, are the post-cataclysmic sociocultural context and mores. What results is an opportunity to explore, experience and advance romance especially in terms of diversity and choice. At the edge of madness, the love and acceptance of emotion and feelings — hedonism — becomes a norm and the opportunities for romance in all its diverse forms are vastly increased, ultimately redefining the concepts of romance, love, affection, safety, trust, fidelity and devotion, as well as the nuclear family and society itself.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Je6CC...
$7.95 Kindle e-book version now $1.99 throughout May 2021
Soon to be an Audible audiobook read by the incomparable Peter Pollock. Purchased for manga, animation and cinematic treatment by K. Simmons Productions.
The neurobiology of romance suggests that what is necessary is to first favor the parasympathetic (rest and relax) autonomic nervous system, in the process releasing the sympathetic (fight or flight) autonomic nervous system. Again, in that sequence. And that applies equally, though somewhat physically differently, to both partners.
The general biology now clear, we can focus on the emotional aspects of romance. First, however, it is important to distinguish between emotions and feelings. Emotions are purely hormonal. These hormones are released by one or a variety of “triggers,” typically sensual, but equally imaginative. At any rate, the most important hormones surrounding romance are released (“flooded”) into the bloodstream, where they elicit certain pre-programmed behaviors. Feelings, on the other hand, are sensed muscular contractions of both voluntary (striated) and involuntary (smooth) muscles. Emotions trigger a cascade of general behaviors; feelings are what each person “feels” as the result. So romance is the combination of emotions and feelings necessary, in the end, for short and long term conjugal satisfaction.
If all this sounds very unfeeling, unemotional and scientifically unexciting, then I apologize. While romance may be the result of of a cascade of pre-programmed neurobiological responses, these responses occur in real people who, in a complex dance together, decide, sometimes consciously, often unconsciously, whether to initiate and/or release these responses. There’s always choice, though it becomes less controlling as the emotions take over and feelings intensify. Choice, to be accurate, involves not only personal choices, but sociocultural and experiential choices as well.
In THE EDGE OF MADNESS (Aignos 2020) by Raymond Gaynor what changes after the TOTAL MELTDOWN (Borgo/Wildside 2009) by Raymond Gaynor and William Maltese, are the post-cataclysmic sociocultural context and mores. What results is an opportunity to explore, experience and advance romance especially in terms of diversity and choice. At the edge of madness, the love and acceptance of emotion and feelings — hedonism — becomes a norm and the opportunities for romance in all its diverse forms are vastly increased, ultimately redefining the concepts of romance, love, affection, safety, trust, fidelity and devotion, as well as the nuclear family and society itself.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Je6CC...
$7.95 Kindle e-book version now $1.99 throughout May 2021
Soon to be an Audible audiobook read by the incomparable Peter Pollock. Purchased for manga, animation and cinematic treatment by K. Simmons Productions.
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