Scientists have always been interested in understanding more about love. They’ve conducted numerous experiments & research to find out what exactly people, especially women, do in love.
Here are twelve behaviors that women often show when they’re in love with someone. Do you do any of these, or have you noticed someone else doing them?
How she deals with stress
A woman’s hands usually move before her words do when she’s nervous. It’s the same for when she feels threatened, too. Research studies found that women naturally reach for their partner’s hand when they’re stressed, and they do so without being prompted.
It’s different when women are with strangers or people they’re not in a relationship with. They don’t have the same neural responses to threat, so they don’t look to hold the other person’s hand.
How she comforts herself
Women in long-term relationships often initiate physical comfort more. It’s usually through hugging. One study found that women who hug their partners more frequently tend to show different chemical readings.
They have higher levels of oxytocin (known as the “love hormone”) and lower blood-pressure readings. The researchers concluded these readings were directly related to the hugs.
How she deals with challenging times
You might notice that a woman keeps her partner’s photo close, such as in her purse or on her desk. That’s not simply sentiment. One experiment involved showing women images of their romantic partners while being made to go through something uncomfortable.
Seeing the photo helped to reduce the women’s pain levels, especially when compared to seeing a stranger’s face. The visual cue of a woman’s partner is enough to make her feel calmer.
How she talks
How a woman speaks is just as important as the actual words she uses. Studies show that women sometimes adjust their speaking pitch when they’re talking to a romantic partner, and they’ll try to match their partner’s patterns.
They might not notice that they’re doing it themselves. But studies suggest that a change in vocal tone only happens when a woman is speaking to someone she loves, rather than a stranger.
How she refers to herself
Another important part of language is how a woman refers to herself. Research suggests that women in romantic relationships often use more “we” and “us” pronouns, although it may not be a conscious choice.
They use a higher number of shared pronouns, especially when telling stories about their relationships & having lab-based conversation tasks. Women describe their partnership as a unit.
How she reacts to attractive alternates
One study involved showing women photos of people judged to be attractive. Those who were in committed relationships often gave lower scores to the attractive people than single women did.
That’s not to say that women completely stop seeing other people as attractive when they’re in love. It’s simply that they’re unlikely to recognize or see them as being that way, and it’s something that happens more automatically than deliberately, according to the research.
How she daydreams
Of course, a woman who’s in love thinks about her partner. But you may not realize how much she thinks about them. Research has found that women spend around 85% of their time awake thinking about their partners.
They do so during work & chores, even when they’re supposed to be concentrating on other things. The behavior usually happens without any obvious triggers to cause it.
How she listens and understands
Emotional empathy is important in every relationship, and it seems that many women understand that quite a bit. Studies on couples suggest that women in love are more likely to be aware of their partner’s emotional state.
They’ll notice any changes in their mood, no matter how subtle, and often respond to these changes with reassurance. A woman in love will listen & possibly change her reactions, based on how her partner feels.
How she deals with disagreements
Being in love with someone doesn’t necessarily mean that you stop having conflicts with them. But how you deal with these fights may show your true feelings. Research indicates that women in love are more likely to listen to their partner fully & acknowledge their point.
They tend to soften their stance during the conversation, although not because they’re agreeing with them automatically. It instead comes from a place of wanting to stay present and keep the conversation going, rather than shutting it down.
How she repairs conflict
What happens after a disagreement is also important. Women in love are more likely to take steps to fix the connection, according to relationship repair research. They might also reach out to “reset.”
Researchers claim that these behaviors are specific actions instead of personality traits. Women who aren’t in love apparently don’t do the same sort of repair work.
How she deals with distractions
Women who are in love are going to be emotionally invested in their partners, and that changes how they see others, too. Lab studies focused on where women put their visual attention during tasks.
They found that women in committed relationships tend to move their focus away from other potential distractions more quickly than single women. The committed women returned their attention to their partner sooner. It also stayed there for longer.
How she takes the lead emotionally
Women usually take on more of the emotional labor that keeps a relationship going when they’re in love. Studies show they bring up feelings & check in after difficult moments to encourage more open conversations.
It’s a sort of behavior that women apparently don’t do when they’re not in love. However, it doesn’t mean that all the emotional responsibility should be on a woman.
Sources: Please see here for a complete listing of all sources that were consulted in the preparation of this article.