Love, Genes, and Identity: The Interplay of Epigenetics and Environment

In a fascinating exploration of love and identity, Karissa Sanbonmatsu examines how our biology and experiences intertwine to shape who we are. Starting with a simple question — when do we know we’re in love? — Sanbonmatsu describes how love isn’t only a romantic or emotional experience; it’s a powerful physiological process. When we fall in love, our brains flood with oxytocin, commonly known as the “love hormone.” Yet, this is just part of the story, raising questions about nature versus nurture: is our capacity to love encoded in our genes, or is it taught?

The Nature vs. Nurture Debate

Sanbonmatsu delves into the nature versus nurture debate, explaining that while “nature” refers to genetic programming passed down through generations, “nurture” encompasses the environmental factors we’re exposed to throughout life. But some traits, she notes, aren’t solely nature or nurture; they’re influenced by epigenetics. Epigenetics refers to molecular changes that act as a “layer” above DNA, allowing the environment to modify gene expression without changing the actual DNA sequence.

Epigenetics and Stress Response

A notable example is research on rats that showed how maternal nurturing affects stress resilience in…