Why people in love appear "stupid" or behave irrationally

  Hi, today I want to share an interesting topic, namely "why people in love appear stupid or behave irrationally",  The reason I chose this topic is because many couples have irrational relationships when they are in a relationship, Based on my observations, the reason someone appears stupid in a relationship is because he only prioritizes passion and does not prioritize commitment and quality of intimacy, there are several psychological terms that can explain why people in love appear "stupid" or behave irrationally:

Limerence: This term was introduced by psychologist Dorothy Tennov in 1979. Limerence describes a highly obsessive state of mind when someone is in love. Characteristics of limerence include:

- Constantly focused thoughts on the loved one (limerent object).

- Intense feelings of mixed happiness and anxiety.

- Fear of rejection.

- Overinterpretation of even minor actions or words from the loved one.

- Irrational or unusual behavior in an attempt to attract attention or approach the loved one

Halo Effect: The halo effect is a cognitive bias in which a positive impression of a person in one area influences your judgment of that person in another area. In the context of falling in love, the halo effect can cause you to overlook your loved one's flaws and only see their positive aspects. This can make you appear "stupid" because you are unrealistic in your assessment of the person.

Cognitive Dissonance: Cognitive dissonance occurs when someone experiences a conflict between their beliefs and their behavior. When you fall in love with someone whose traits or behaviors conflict with your values, you may experience cognitive dissonance. To reduce this tension, you might change your beliefs or rationalize your loved one's behavior, which can make you appear "stupid" to others.

Attachment Theory: Attachment theory explains how our early relationships with caregivers influence our romantic relationship styles later in life. People with an insecure attachment style (anxious or avoidant) may exhibit irrational or excessive behavior when falling in love, such as becoming overly clingy or withdrawn from their loved ones.

Neurotransmitters: Biologically, falling in love triggers the release of neurotransmitters like dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin in the brain. Dopamine is associated with feelings of pleasure and reward, norepinephrine triggers stress responses (such as heart palpitations), and serotonin (which typically regulates mood) actually decreases during early love. This combination of chemical effects can lead to impulsive, obsessive, and less rational behavior.

Why Does This Happen?

 - Evolution: Evolutionarily, "stupid" behavior during love may have served a purpose in strengthening bonds and increasing reproductive opportunities.

- Strong Emotions: Love is a powerful emotion that can override logic and common sense.

- Desire for Connection: Humans have a fundamental need to connect and be loved. When we find someone we feel connected to, we may be willing to do unusual or irrational things to maintain the relationship.

Example:

Someone who is usually very careful with their finances may suddenly spend lavishly on gifts or lavish dates to win the heart of their loved one. Or, someone who is fiercely independent may become overly dependent on their partner and constantly seek validation.

Hope this explanation helps

The side effects of overjustification in reality

   Hi, today I want to share an interesting topic, namely "the side effects of overjustification in reality", The main reason why I chose this topic is because many people, especially women, often fall victim to over-justification, in reality many sellers of goods try to exaggerate a justification to the potential buyers until they cannot use logic optimally, The side effect that occurs is that buyers end up buying a product that they don't actually need, in Psychology, the overjustification effect is a fascinating psychological phenomenon because it challenges our common assumptions about motivation.

 Here’s what makes it interesting:

It shows that rewards can backfire.

Intuitively, we think giving people rewards (money, praise, prizes) should increase their motivation. But the overjustification effect shows that if someone already enjoys an activity, adding an external reward can actually reduce their intrinsic motivation. For example, a child who loves drawing may draw less often once they start getting prizes for it—because the focus shifts from “I draw because I enjoy it” to “I draw to get the prize.”

It highlights the fragility of intrinsic motivation.

People’s natural curiosity, creativity, or playfulness can be disrupted if the task is reframed as “work” rather than “fun.” This insight is widely applied in education, parenting, and workplace management.

It reveals how our minds make sense of our own behavior.

The effect is explained by self-perception theory: we often infer our internal motives by observing what we do. If someone notices, “I’m doing this because I’m being paid,” they may conclude they don’t actually like it that much.

It complicates the use of incentives.

The effect doesn’t mean all rewards are bad. It suggests that the type of reward and how it’s presented matter. For example:

✅Unexpected or symbolic rewards (like verbal praise) usually don’t undermine intrinsic motivation.

✅Tangible, expected rewards (like money or prizes) for doing something already enjoyable are more likely to cause the effect.

It connects motivation to identity.

When people feel that they are doing something out of choice and enjoyment, it becomes part of their identity (“I am a person who likes drawing”). When it feels imposed or transactional, it weakens that identity connection.

In short, the overjustification effect is interesting because it reveals the paradox that too much external motivation can kill internal drive, and it shows how our sense of “why we do things” is constructed in subtle, sometimes counterintuitive ways.

Overjustification (or the overjustification effect) is a psychological phenomenon in which providing external rewards or rewards for an activity that is already internally enjoyed can diminish a person's interest in that activity, simply put, when someone does something because they enjoy it (intrinsic motivation), and then we introduce external incentives (such as money, praise, or prizes), that person can begin to associate the activity with the reward they receive. As a result, their original (intrinsic) motivation weakens or even disappears.

Effects of Overjustification

Here are some of the impacts that can arise from overjustification:

* Loss of Internal Motivation: This is the most important effect. Someone who initially enjoyed painting because it felt satisfying, for example, may lose interest after being paid for each painting. They are no longer painting for pleasure, but for the money. Once the reward is gone, their motivation disappears as well.

* Decrease in Quality and Creativity: When the focus shifts from personal satisfaction to external rewards, the quality of work often declines. People no longer strive to do their best or be the most creative, but merely to meet the minimum requirements to receive a reward. This is particularly evident in jobs that require original thinking or innovative solutions. 

* Transactional Mindset: This phenomenon transforms a person's relationship with an activity or job into a transactional one. "I'll do this if I get paid or rewarded." This can damage dynamics in the workplace, education, and even in hobbies or personal relationships.

Real-Life Examples

* Children and Reading: A child who enjoys reading books because the stories are interesting may stop reading once their parents give them money for each book they finish. Once their parents stop giving them money, the child may no longer want to read, as their motivation has shifted from "enjoying reading" to "reading for money."

* Hobbies and Work: Someone who initially enjoyed photography as a hobby may feel pressured and lose their passion when they make it a full-time job. The pressure to make money and meet client requests can diminish the initial enjoyment.

This phenomenon demonstrates that sometimes well-intentioned rewards can have unexpected and damaging consequences. Therefore, it is important to be careful when offering rewards, especially for activities driven by intrinsic motivation.

Finding a meaning in the pleasure obtained

   Hi, today I want to share an interesting topic, namely "finding a meaning in the pleasure obtained", The reason I chose this topic is because many people cannot find meaning in their daily activities, they think that the activities they get cannot give much meaning to them, We need to realize that not all the activities we do can provide meaning, but we ourselves must give meaning to the activities themselves. to be meaningful, pleasure is not just a feeling, but also needs to be connected to deeper values. Several factors can transform pleasure into a more meaningful experience.

✅Connection to Personal Values

Pleasure becomes meaningful when it aligns with your values. For example, enjoying nature while hiking becomes meaningful if you deeply appreciate nature and its beauty. This pleasure is not just about the scenery, but also about recognizing the values ​​you believe in.

✅Connection to Human Connection

Sharing a pleasurable experience with others can make it much more meaningful, a delicious dinner becomes more than just a delicious meal when enjoyed with friends or family you care about, the presence of others enriches the experience, making it a cherished memory.

✅Encouraging Personal Growth

Pleasure that stimulates personal growth can create meaning. Learning to play a new musical instrument can be challenging at first, but the satisfaction of successfully playing it can provide profound meaning. This pleasure arises from the process of achievement and self-development.

✅Awareness and Mindfulness

Often, we enjoy things without fully realizing it.  With mindfulness practice, we can better appreciate every detail of the experience. Sensing the texture, aroma, and flavor of a cup of tea, for example, can transform a simple pleasure into a meaningful moment.

✅Recalling Memories or Nostalgia

A pleasure can be meaningful if it triggers nostalgia or reminds us of a fond memory from the past. Listening to a favorite song from our youth, for example, isn't just about the music, but also about the memories, emotions, and self-identity of that time.

✅The Element of Sacrifice or Effort

Something obtained through effort or sacrifice tends to be more appreciated. A dish cooked after hours of experimenting with a new recipe will taste more delicious and meaningful than food purchased directly. The process adds value to the result.

Essentially, pleasure becomes meaningful when it transcends momentary sensations and connects with important aspects of our lives, such as values, relationships, growth, and memories.

Giving meaning to pleasure is not just an act, but a fundamental need that provides many benefits to our lives. Here are some reasons why it's important to do so.

✅Prevent Boredom and Addiction

Without meaning, pleasure can become a shallow cycle. For example, when you eat a delicious meal, you might seek the same sensation, and over time, the pleasure will fade. However, if you give pleasure meaning—for example, by appreciating the process of cooking it or enjoying it with a loved one—the experience becomes more valuable and less boring. This also helps us avoid constantly seeking pleasure from external sources.

✅Building Stronger Relationships

When we share pleasure and give meaning to the moment, we strengthen bonds with others. Birthday parties, for example, aren't just about cake and gifts, but also about memories, laughter, and gratitude. By giving meaning to these moments, we not only enjoy what happens but also create memories that strengthen our relationships with those closest to us.

✅Increasing Happiness and Life Satisfaction

Meaningful pleasure tends to lead to deeper and more lasting satisfaction. Momentary pleasure (hedonic happiness) can disappear in a matter of minutes, while meaningful happiness (eudaimonic happiness) comes from engagement, purpose, and personal growth. When we find meaning in pleasure, we not only feel happy but also feel our lives are richer and more meaningful.

Giving meaning to pleasure also helps us appreciate each moment. This transforms fleeting pleasures into valuable experiences that can improve our overall quality of life.