What is love? Of Others Of Yourself https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HkUGSNNy4dI (funny kids)

It’s all in your head – neurotransmitters Proteins

It’s all mostly in your head endocrine system makes hormones: neurons in the brain trigger the pituitary gland. The pituitary gland secretes proteins into the blood to tell certain glands to increase or decrease the amount of a hormone.  Testosterone is chemically altered to become estrogen (brain health and sex drive) ovaries produce testosterone (maintains muscle and bone mass as well as sex drive) and estrogen

Love of friends: Oxytocin Often called the ‘bonding hormone’ Produced mainly by the hypothalamus (an almond sized region of the brain located close to the brain stem). Oxytocin is released when human contact is made: hand-holding, hugging, etc. Oxytocin helps to forge bonds Oxytocin is also the reason why we form all sorts of deep connections not only with our partners, but with friends, parents, and even our pets.

Produced in the ovaries and testicles Stage 1 of ‘love’: LUST!

Attractions! Adrenaline and Dopamine Adrenaline & Cortisol (Hormones) The initial stages of attraction increases adrenalin (by the adrenal gland) and cortisol (by the pituitary gland). When you unexpectedly see that special someone, you begin to sweat, your heart races and your mouth goes dry. (At-Bristol) Serotonin – low levels of this chemical keeps you obsessed and focused with the person Dopamine & Norepinephrine Helen Fisher asked newly ‘love struck’ couples to have their brains examined She discovered they have high levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine. This chemical stimulates ‘desire and reward’ by triggering an intense rush of pleasure. It has the same effect on the brain as taking cocaine! (At-Bristol) https://www.ted.com/talks/helen_fisher_studies_the_brain_in_love?language=en (HF)

Long term Oxytocin & Vasopressin: are important hormones that keep couples together over the long term released during bonding moments, including sex. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDMwpVUhxAo (ASAP science)

Sex and Hormones (Hodgekiss, 2011) Oxytocin is released during sex. This hormone makes us more trusting of our partner. It’s also the key hormone in the bonding process. Women produce more of this hormone, which means they are more likely to let their guard down and fall in love with a man after sex. Men, on the other hand, instead of getting a surge of bonding hormone receive a surge of simple pleasure. When a man has an orgasm, the main hormone released is dopamine — the pleasure hormone.

Loving yourself 54% of girls and 41% of boys aged 13-19 were dissatisfied with their looks.  2 out of 5 teens surveyed have been teased about their appearance. 65% of teens are afraid of gaining weight 31% of teens have at least one body part on which they would like to change using plastic surgery http://www.buzzfeed.com/jessicamisener/17-mesmerizing-before-after-photoshop-gifs (Stage of Life 2013)

Self Esteem & Depression About 20 percent of teens will experience teen depression before they reach adulthood.  Between 10 to 15 percent of teenagers have some symptoms of teen depression at any one time.  About 5 percent of teens are suffering from major depression at any one time  (Teen depression statistics)

Research on self esteem and sex Of 8,563 seventh- through 12th-graders studied over an 18-month period, Meier found that after having sex for the first time ‘led to increases in depression and decreases in self-esteem’, especially in girls. (Meier, 2007) ‘Sex may be stressful for adolescents who are not physically or socially ready –especially for those who are young or in unstable relationships.’ (Meier, 2007)

What is love? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjZ0KbJcav0 (motivation) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=litXW91UauE (dove project) Activity

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5f56k2wMPY (SW what boys should know) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V02wBggJiCs (what girls should know)

Resources At-Bristol. "The Science of Love." The Science of Love. Wellcome Trust, n.d. Web. 22 May 2016. <http://www.youramazingbrain.org/lovesex/sciencelove.htm>. Bartels, Andreas, and Semir Zeki. "The Neural Basis of Romantic Love." Department of Cognitive Neurology, University College London, 26 Sept. 200. Web. 28 May 2013. <http://www.vislab.ucl.ac.uk/pdf/NeuralBasisOfLove.pdf> "Endocrine System." Endocrine System. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 May 2016. <http://www.well-women.com/endocrine.html>. Hodgekiss, Anna. "Sex: Why It Makes Women Fall in Love - but Just Makes Men Want MORE!" Mail Online, 29 Aug. 2011. Web. 22 May 2014. <http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2031498/Sex-Why-makes-women-fall-love--just-makes-men-want-MORE.html>. Klein, Julia M. "Love With The Proper Type." New Jersey Monthly, 15 Jan. 2009. Web. 28 May 2013. <http://njmonthly.com/articles/lifestyle/people/love-with-the-proper-type.html>. Meier, Ann. ADOLESCENTS’ FIRST SEX AND SUBSEQUENT MENTAL HEALTH:. Department of Sociology University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2007. Web. 24 May 2014. <http://www.ssc.wisc.edu/cde/cdewp/2002-07.pdf>. Stage of Life. "Teens & Body Image...Changing the World." Teens and Body Image. Stage of Life, 2013. Web. 20 May 2013. <http://www.stageoflife.com/TeensandBodyImage.aspx>. "Teen Depression Statistics - Teen Depression." Teen Depression Statistics - Teen Depression. Teenhelp.com, n.d. Web. 20 May 2014. <http://www.teenhelp.com/teen-depression/depression-statistics.html>. "The Science of Love." Science: Human Body & Mind. BBC, n.d. Web. 28 May 2013. <http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/hottopics/love/>. Society for Neuroscience. "Hormones: Communication between the Brain and the Body." BrainFacts.Org. Society for Neuroscience, 1 Apr. 2012. Web. 22 May 2016. <http://www.brainfacts.org/brain-basics/cell-communication/articles/2012/hormones-communication-between-the-brain-and-the-body/>. University of Minnesota. "Teen Sex And Depression Study Finds Most Teens' Mental Health Unaffected By Nonmarital Sex." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 24 May 2007. Web. 24 May 2014. <http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/05/070523113756.htm>. http://selfesteem.dove.us/Teaching_resources.aspx http://blogs.uoregon.edu/j350campaignforrealbeauty/sample-page/ https://www.ted.com/talks/sarah_jayne_blakemore_the_mysterious_workings_of_the_adolescent_brain?language=en https://www.ted.com/talks/helen_fisher_studies_the_brain_in_love?language=en (helene Fischer)