The Medicalization of Love
Open accessAbstract
Pharmaceuticals or other emerging technologies could be used to enhance (or diminish) feelings of lust, attraction, and attachment in adult romantic partnerships. Although such interventions could conceivably be used to promote individual (and couple) well-being, their widespread development and/or adoption might lead to the ‘medicalization’ of human love and heartache—for some, a source of a serious concern. In this essay, we argue that the medicalization of love need not necessarily be problematic, on balance, but could plausibly be expected to have either good or bad consequences depending upon how it unfolds. By anticipating some of the specific ways in which these technologies could yield unwanted outcomes, bioethicists and others can help to direct the course of love’s medicalization—should it happen to occur—more toward the ‘good’ side than the ‘bad.’
AI snapshot
Written from the paper’s full text.
TL;DR
The paper argues that the medicalization of love is not inherently bad; its consequences depend on how it unfolds and can be shaped by ethical deliberation and policy. It examines five common worries about medicalization and contends they do not justify a blanket condemnation of love-affecting technologies.
Key findings
- The authors challenge John Evans’s claim that “we can all fear the medicalization of love,” arguing that medicalization can have good and bad forms, with examples such as abortion, epilepsy, alcohol addiction, and pain.
- They identify five worries: pathologization of everything; expansion of medical social control; narrow focus on individuals rather than social context; narrow focus on biology rather than psychology; and threat to authenticity or the true self.
- For worries 1 and 2, they acknowledge risks such as invented disorders like “hypoactive sexual desire disorder” and restrictive monogamy norms, but argue that medicine’s disease-oriented focus is shifting toward quality-of-life concerns and that public skepticism and advocacy can check abuses.
- For worries 3 through 5, they argue that individual and biological interventions can complement social change, that treatment modality need not match etiology, and that authenticity concerns are unclear and may be outweighed by relationship well-being; love drugs “will not be for everyone.”
Methods
- This is a conceptual and normative bioethics essay, not an empirical study; it analyzes the objection that love-affecting neurotechnologies would medicalize love.
- It draws on prior work by the authors and others, neuroscience examples involving oxytocin, dopamine, and testosterone in voles and humans, and literature on medicalization by Davis, Conrad, Parens, Gupta, and Synofzik.
- The main analysis is a domain- and case-specific examination of five worries, illustrated by a hypothetical scenario in which John and Lisa receive oxytocin via nasal spray in couples counseling.
Limitations
- The paper states that medicalization of love cannot be productively analyzed in abstract terms and depends on specific and even idiosyncratic factors; it does not claim to settle all empirical questions.
- It notes that authenticity worries raise unresolved empirical questions, such as whether drug-based interventions introduce psychological or behavioral inconsistencies, in whom, and whether such differences can be predicted.
- The text makes evident that no systematic empirical data or clinical trial evidence are presented; the arguments are normative and illustrative, and the authors identify themselves as enhancement theorists.
Model-written summary. Check it against the paper before relying on it.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Claims the paper makes
0 of 44 cited sources checked · 0 supported · 0 flagged
- Premisecitation
Brain systems can be influenced, certainly in animal models and at least to some degree in humans, by administering or blocking relevant chemical compounds.
“What scientists are now beginning to discover is that these brain systems can be influenced, certainly in animal models, and at least to some degree in humans as well, by administering or blocking the relevant chemical compounds.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Premisecitation
The older model of medicine centered on objective clinical-pathologic indices and favored a paternalistic physician-patient relationship is shifting more toward a new quality of life-oriented focus which emphasizes a patient's subjective well-being and individual life preferences within a coequal physician-patient relationship.
“The older model, which centered on “objective clinical-pathologic indices and favored a paternalistic physician-patient relationship” is shifting more toward “a new quality of life-oriented focus which emphasizes a patient’s subjective well-being and individual life preferences within a coequal physician-patient relationship.”73”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [73]
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
- Premisecitation
There exists a substantial amount of evidence that human love and relationships are already deeply implicated in uncontroversially 'medical' phenomena such as physical health and longevity.
“As a point of departure (although this will not be the main thrust of our argument), we note that there exists a substantial amount of evidence that human love and relationships are already deeply implicated in such uncontroversially ‘medical’ phenomena as physical health and longevity.37”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [37]
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
- Premisecitation
Modulation of other neurochemicals can interfere with relationship attachments, for example, by diminishing sex drive.
“while the modulation of other neurochemicals can interfere with relationship attachments, for example, by diminishing the sex drive.29”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [29] source
- Premisecitation
Attempts of pharmaceutical companies and the medical-industrial complex to conjure diseases out of thin air is being met with increasing public skepticism and awareness.
“In addition, the attempts of pharmaceutical companies and the medical-industrial complex to conjure diseases out of thin air is being met with increasing public skepticism and awareness.74,75”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 2 sources checked- cites [74]
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
- cites [75]
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
- Premisecitation
Scientists have begun to unravel some neurochemical and other brain-level factors underlying human lust, attraction, and attachment.
“Scientists have begun to unravel some of the neurochemical and other brain-level factors that underlie human lust, attraction, and attachment—on some accounts, the biological building blocks of love.1”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [1] source
- Premisecitation
Positive interpersonal relationships yield a wide array of medical benefits including improved coping with major illnesses.
“Positive interpersonal relationships yield a wide array of medical benefits including improved coping with major illnesses38;”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [38]
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
- Premisecitation
These underlying brain phenomena do much to shape, as well as respond to, higher-level romantic experiences across a wide range of theoretical conceptions.
“Although love is not simply reducible to these brain chemicals or pathways—and although there are many different theories of love, including how it should be defined—what is clear by now is that these underlying phenomena do much to shape (as well as to respond to) our higher-level romantic experiences, across a wide range of theoretical conceptions.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 4 sources checked - Premisecitation
The influence of social relationships on the risk of death is comparable with or exceeds well-established risk factors for mortality such as smoking, drinking, lack of exercise, and obesity.
“indeed, the “influence of social relationships on the risk of death [is] comparable with [or even exceeds] well-established risk factors for mortality” such as smoking, drinking, lack of exercise, and obesity.39”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [39]
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
- Premisecitation
Administering an oxytocin blocker to voles that would otherwise form a monogamous attachment causes them to fail to do so and express interest in novel sexual partners.
“They can also reverse this process, by administering an oxytocin blocker: voles that would otherwise have formed a monogamous attachment fail to do so and express interest in novel sexual partners.27”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [27] source
- Premisecitation
The disease-oriented focus of medicine seems to be diminishing, rather than increasing, over time.
“First, as Synofzik has pointed out, the disease-oriented focus of medicine seems to be diminishing, rather than increasing, over time.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [73]
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
- Premisecitation
By administering oxytocin directly into the brain, scientists can induce a pair-bond in a certain species of vole even if the voles have not yet engaged in any mating behavior.
“For example, by administering a dose of oxytocin—by injecting it directly into the brain—scientists can induce a pair-bond in a certain species of vole, even if the voles have not yet engaged in any mating behavior.26”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [26] source
- Premisecitation
Brain chemicals such as oxytocin, dopamine, testosterone, and many others seem to regulate interpersonal drives and emotions, including the formation of romantic pair-bonds.
“Brain chemicals such as oxytocin, dopamine, testosterone, and many others seem to regulate our interpersonal drives and emotions, including the formation of romantic pair-bonds.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 4 sources checked - Interpretationreasoning
It is not at all clear that exogenous modification of the same brain chemistry-especially in a similar behavioral context, through an oxytocin nasal spray-would introduce a special moral problem.
“That being the case, however, it is not at all clear that the exogenous modification of that same brain chemistry—especially in a similar behavioral context, yet through the use of an oxytocin nasal spray, as in the example of John and Lisa—would introduce a special moral problem.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim- The authors state this as an assumption: Pharmaceuticals and other emerging technologies could be used to enhance or diminish love-related drives, emotions, and attachments.
- Interpretationreasoning
The view that 'we can all fear the medicalization of love' full stop is cast into doubt.
“We hope that this has been sufficient at least to cast doubt upon the view that “we can all fear the medicalization of love” (full stop).”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Interpretationreasoning
The modality or type of intervention does not matter as much from a moral perspective as whether it improves the well-being of the people involved, all things considered.
“As we have argued previously, therefore, the modality or the type of intervention does not matter as much from a moral perspective as whether it improves the well-being of the people involved, all things considered.90”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [90]
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
- Interpretationcitation
If someone pursued behavioral activities with the explicit aim of improving her relationship, it would be difficult to see how her authenticity had been compromised in any obvious way.
“Yet if someone pursued these activities (sex, massage, etc.) with the explicit aim of improving her relationship—by increasing trust, empathy, and interpersonal connection—it would be difficult to see how her authenticity had been compromised in any obvious way.92”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [92]
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
- Premisenone given
For many neurochemical interventions already familiar, such as alcohol and antidepressant medication, psychological or behavioral inconsistencies are not, or do not seem to be, introduced in a reasonably large number of cases.
“However, it is an empirical question whether such inconsistencies would be introduced, and for many neurochemical interventions with which we are already familiar (alcohol, antidepressant medication, etc.), they are not, or do not seem to be, in a reasonably large number of cases.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim- The authors state this as an assumption: Pharmaceuticals and other emerging technologies could be used to enhance or diminish love-related drives, emotions, and attachments.
- Interpretationcitation
Such modification might even promote a person's ability to live her life 'authentically' and in accordance with her goals and values.
“Rather, such modification might even promote a person’s ability to live her life ‘authentically’ and in accordance with her goals and values.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim- The authors state this as an assumption: Pharmaceuticals and other emerging technologies could be used to enhance or diminish love-related drives, emotions, and attachments.
- Classified as probably not a substantial claim. 25
- May combine two claims. 20
Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.
PremisecitationRelationship treatments, even if warranted, would not need to be biochemically based; most existing therapies are not.
“Of course, relationship ‘treatments’—even if warranted—would not need to be biochemically based. Most existing therapies are not.43”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [43]
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
May combine two claims.
PremisecitationAdministering 'medicine' to women in oppressive social situations may be no better than a superficial Band-Aid and can lead to far worse outcomes overall than changing the conditions in which they live.
“Indeed, as Purdy notes, administering ‘medicine’ to women in oppressive social situations may be no better than putting on a superficial Band-Aid and can lead to far worse outcomes overall than would be achieved by changing the conditions in which they live.86”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [86]
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S4 (based).
Interpretationnone givenLove is not simply reducible to brain chemicals or pathways.
“Although love is not simply reducible to these brain chemicals or pathways—and although there are many different theories of love, including how it should be defined—what is clear by now is that these underlying phenomena do much to shape (as well as to respond to) our higher-level romantic experiences, across a wide range of theoretical conceptions.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimProbably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable).
InterpretationreasoningAllowing the administration of psychotropic substances on the basis of their ability to improve individuals' quality of life-even if there is no particular illness to diagnose-would separate treatment from pathology and defuse the potential problem of the pathologization of everything.
“This would further defuse the potential problem of the pathologization of everything because it would separate treatment (applying a medical technology) from pathology (identifying a ‘real’ disease).”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimMay combine two claims.
PremisecitationRelationship dysfunction and loneliness are damaging to health and well-being and can lead to illness, depression, and inflamed immune responses of the type that contribute to arthritis and coronary heart disease.
“By contrast, relationship dysfunction and loneliness are damaging to health and well-being and can lead to such outcomes as illness, depression, and inflamed immune responses of the type that contribute to arthritis and coronary heart disease.40,41”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked- cites [40]
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
- cites [41]
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable). May combine two claims.
InterpretationreasoningSuch a paradigm would blur the distinction between treatment and enhancement, or else count the former as a subclass of the latter.
“Such a paradigm would obviously blur the distinction between treatment and enhancement (or else count the former as a subclass of the latter), a topic of much debate in the recent literature.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimMay combine two claims.
PremisecitationMore recent research suggests that drugs that manipulate love-related brain systems may already be partly available, and future versions may be more potent.
“More recent research suggests that such drugs—at least in a nascent form—may already be partly available,3,4 and future versions may be even more potent.5”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checkedMay combine two claims.
InterpretationreasoningThe problematic consequences associated with medicalization-including rampant pathologization of natural differences-are not unavoidable and need not be left unchecked.
“This does not mean that opportunities for abuse do not persist. But it does show that the problematic consequences associated with medicalization—including rampant pathologization of natural differences (whose ‘harmfulness’ may be socially constructed and/or based upon flawed moral thinking)—are not unavoidable and need not be left unchecked.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimMay combine two claims.
PremisecitationIn humans, synthetic oxytocin can be administered as a simple nasal spray and seems to strengthen attachment-related representations as well as romantic bonding cues.
“Similarly, in humans, synthetic oxytocin can be administered as a simple nasal spray (and seems to strengthen attachment-related representations as well as romantic bonding cues),28”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [28] source
Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S3 (load-bearing).
InterpretationreasoningIf relationship dysfunction turns out to be at the root of serious problems such as heart disease or arthritis, then treatment modalities aimed at addressing relationship health in the first instance would seem to be well worth investigating.
“Hence, as we argued in a recent paper: “If relationship dysfunction . . . turns out to be at the ‘root’ of such serious problems as heart disease or arthritis, then treatment modalities aimed at addressing relationship health in the first instance would seem to be well worth investigating.”42”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [42]
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable).
InterpretationreasoningThere are good and bad forms of medicalization.
“In other words: there are “good and bad forms of medicalization.””
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimProbably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable).
PremisecitationQuestions about the prudent, legitimate use of psychopharmacological treatments and other forms of medical intervention cannot be discussed in purely abstract terms but require a domain- and even case-specific analysis.
“Following on from this view, as Matthis Synofzik has forcefully argued,65 questions about the prudent, legitimate use of psychopharmacological treatments and other forms of medical intervention cannot be discussed in purely abstract terms but rather require a domain- and even case-specific analysis.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [65]
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
May combine two claims.
InterpretationreasoningMedicalization and pharmaceuticalization have the potential to lead to a number of potentially bad consequences, but they can have good consequences as well.
“What these worries seem to indicate is that medicalization—and pharmaceuticalization—have the potential to lead to a number of potentially bad consequences. But they can have good consequences as well.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimProbably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable).
InterpretationreasoningAs long as one does not subscribe to strong technological determinism, the solution to problematic technologies does not lie in avoiding them altogether, but in anticipating difficulties and modifying the social and legal context in which they would be used.
“the solution does not lie in avoiding potentially problematic technologies altogether. Instead, it has to do with attempting to anticipate any difficulties that may be associated with those technologies and then modifying the context (social, legal, etc.) in which they would most likely be used.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimClassified as probably not a substantial claim.
PremisecitationThe focus on the individual has reinforced the proclivity of treating complex societal problems with technological fixes rather than by changing the social structure.
“Unfortunately, this “focus on the individual has reinforced the proclivity of treating complex societal problems with technological fixes . . . rather than by changing the social structure.”82”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [82]
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
May combine two claims.
InterpretationcitationThe old Foucauldian specter of pervasive medical surveillance-of oppressive normalization and top-down control-may be losing considerable steam, and with conscious and deliberate effort, this trend could be reinforced.
“Taking these considerations together, it seems not only that the old Foucauldian specter of pervasive medical surveillance—of oppressive normalization and top-down control—may be losing considerable steam, but also that, with conscious and deliberate effort, this trend could be reinforced.80”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [80]
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
Classified as probably not a substantial claim.
PremisecitationUnderlying human romantic attachment is a collection of interlocking brain systems hypothesized to have evolved to suit the reproductive needs of our ancestors.
“Underlying human romantic attachment is a collection of interlocking brain systems that are hypothesized to have evolved to suit the reproductive needs of our ancestors.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 4 sources checkedProbably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based).
PremisereasoningThere are numerous additional examples of medicalization that one might think have been on balance beneficial, such as the medicalization of epilepsy, alcohol addiction, or pain.
“There are numerous additional examples of medicalization that one might think have been on balance beneficial, such as the medicalization of epilepsy (formerly a ‘spiritual’ condition), the medicalization of alcohol addiction (formerly ‘deviant drinking’), or the medicalization—and hence treatment—of pain.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimClassified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.
PremisecitationMedicalization can obscure the social forces that influence well-being; focusing on neurobiological features may lead to treatment with drugs while social environments that feed the condition are not altered.
“Conrad has expressed it well: “Medicalization can obscure the social forces that influence well-being. For example, by focusing completely on the neurobiological features [of some condition, it may be viewed as a genetic or biological problem], and [thus] treated predominately with [drugs]—while the social environments that . . . feed [the condition] are not altered.”81”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [81]
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
May combine two claims.
InterpretationcitationA bond-enhancing neurochemical substance would not work to create love magically, but might help it along by acting on the underlying substrates of attachment, or by promoting more empathic states of mind.
“Such a substance would not work to create love ‘magically,’ of course, but it might certainly help it along by acting on the underlying substrates of attachment,47 or by promoting more empathic states of mind.48”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked- cites [47]
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
- cites [48]
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
- The authors state this as an assumption: Pharmaceuticals and other emerging technologies could be used to enhance or diminish love-related drives, emotions, and attachments.
May combine two claims.
PremisecitationThe medicalization of abortion transformed the ending of unwanted pregnancy from a criminal act to a medical one even though pregnancy is not a disease.
“The medicalization of abortion, for instance, which many regard as a positive development, was responsible for transforming the “ending [of] unwanted pregnancy . . . from a criminal act to a medical one” even though “pregnancy . . . is not a disease.”63”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [63]
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
Classified as probably not a substantial claim.
InterpretationreasoningIt is an empirical question whether drug-based interventions would introduce psychological or behavioral inconsistencies in the person or couple being enhanced.
“However, it is an empirical question whether such inconsistencies would be introduced, and for many neurochemical interventions with which we are already familiar (alcohol, antidepressant medication, etc.), they are not, or do not seem to be, in a reasonably large number of cases.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim- The authors state this as an assumption: Pharmaceuticals and other emerging technologies could be used to enhance or diminish love-related drives, emotions, and attachments.
Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.
InterpretationreasoningIt is unclear whether the administration of love drugs would in fact pose a threat to authenticity, or whether it would do so for some individuals and couples but not others.
“Thus there seem to be two main issues: first, it is unclear whether the administration of love drugs would in fact pose a threat to authenticity (or whether it would do so for some individuals and couples but not others), and, second, it is unclear whether, even if it did pose such a threat, this would entail that it should not be done (under the right kinds of conditions).”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim- The authors state this as an assumption: Pharmaceuticals and other emerging technologies could be used to enhance or diminish love-related drives, emotions, and attachments.
Classified as probably not a substantial claim.
PremisereasoningMany individuals who are delighted to be 'swept off their feet' in the early stages of a romantic relationship are devastated later when such feelings begin to fade, seemingly outside their control.
“Many individuals who are delighted to be ‘swept off their feet’ in the early stages of a romantic relationship are just as devastated, later on, when such feelings begin to fade, seemingly outside of their control.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claimProbably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable). May combine two claims.
PremisereasoningThey might even misattribute their changing feelings to something wrong in the partner or relationship and go rushing into a breakup or divorce.
“They might even (mis) attribute their changing feelings to something wrong in the partner, or in the relationship, and go rushing into a breakup or divorce.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimProbably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable).
InterpretationreasoningIf the administration of certain 'love drugs' turns out to be effective in promoting states of mind and behavioral dispositions conducive to a healthy relationship, then couples may simply have an additional tool at hand to help them pursue their overriding interpersonal aims.
“If the administration of certain ‘love drugs’ turns out to be effective in promoting states of mind and behavioral dispositions that are conducive to a healthy relationship, then couples may simply have an additional tool at hand to help them pursue their overriding interpersonal aims.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim- The authors state this as an assumption: Pharmaceuticals and other emerging technologies could be used to enhance or diminish love-related drives, emotions, and attachments.
Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable). May combine two claims.
PremisecitationIndividual/structural and biological/social factors are co-constitutive; interventions aimed at the individual may be effective and may have reverberating effects on broader social issues, and vice versa.
“As Gupta writes with respect to love-altering technologies specifically, individual/structural and biological/social factors are co-constitutive:Interventions aimed at the individual may be effective and may have reverberating effects on the broader social issues, and vice versa.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [88]
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
May combine two claims.
InterpretationreasoningThe medicalization of love cannot be productively analyzed in abstract terms, because medicalization in general can be either good or bad, and which one it is, on balance, depends on specific and even idiosyncratic factors.
“We have tried to show that the medicalization of love cannot be productively analyzed in abstract terms, because medicalization in general can be either good or bad, and which one it is, on balance, depends on a number of specific and even idiosyncratic factors.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimProbably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable). May combine two claims.
PremisecitationEven in the best circumstances, a few women would require all the help that medicine can offer, and such help needs to be made available to them.
“However, “does it follow that women’s health . . . should [therefore] be excluded from the medical realm? Surely not. [For] even in the best [of] circumstances, a few women would require all the help that medicine can offer, and such help needs to be made available to them.”87”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [87]
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable).
Interpretationnone givenThese factors vary along with the phenomenon in question, the individuals or groups involved, and the wider social context.
“These factors, we have suggested, vary along with the phenomenon (such as love) in question, the individuals or groups involved, and the wider social context.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimProbably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable).
InterpretationcitationThere may be a hidden danger in the view that love is something that 'just happens to us' rather than something for which we must take personal responsibility, work on, and try to improve.
“Moreover, as Erich Fromm has argued,97 there may be a hidden danger in the view that love is something that ‘just happens to us’—when we meet the ‘right’ person, for example—rather than something for which we must take personal responsibility, and work on, and try to improve.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [97]
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S4 (based). May combine two claims.
Interpretationnone givenThe value and usefulness of love drugs, and how they alter one's conceptions and/or experiences of love and relationships, are-and ought to be-in the eye of each beholder.
“Their value and their usefulness, and how they alter one’s conceptions (and/or experiences) of love and relationships, are—and we think ought to be—in the eye of each beholder.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim- The authors state this as an assumption: Pharmaceuticals and other emerging technologies could be used to enhance or diminish love-related drives, emotions, and attachments.
May combine two claims.
Premisenone givenA person can 'enhance' her own romantic chemistry behaviorally-by receiving a massage, engaging in sexual intercourse, going on an adventure with her partner, or attending couple's therapy-and these activities release neurotransmitters such as oxytocin and dopamine endogenously and in a particular behavioral context.
“First, it might be pointed out that a person can ‘enhance’ her own romantic chemistry behaviorally—by receiving a massage, engaging in sexual intercourse, going on an adventure with her partner, or attending couple’s therapy. All of these activities release such neurotransmitters as oxytocin and dopamine, albeit endogenously and in a particular behavioral context.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimProbably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S3 (load-bearing).
InterpretationreasoningIt is unclear whether, even if love drugs posed a threat to authenticity, this would entail that it should not be done under the right kinds of conditions.
“Thus there seem to be two main issues: first, it is unclear whether the administration of love drugs would in fact pose a threat to authenticity (or whether it would do so for some individuals and couples but not others), and, second, it is unclear whether, even if it did pose such a threat, this would entail that it should not be done (under the right kinds of conditions).”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim- The authors state this as an assumption: Pharmaceuticals and other emerging technologies could be used to enhance or diminish love-related drives, emotions, and attachments.
Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S4 (based). May combine two claims.
Interpretationnone givenEven with a perfect medical understanding of love, we would not be able to predict who we would fall in love with or specifically how the relationship would play out.
“Neither unpredictability nor ignorance alone makes something worthwhile, and even with a perfect medical understanding of love, we would not be able to predict who we would fall in love with or specifically how the relationship would play out.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimProbably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S4 (based).
Interpretationnone givenLove drugs will not be for everyone.
“Whatever the case, we can be sure that love drugs will not be for everyone.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim- The authors state this as an assumption: Pharmaceuticals and other emerging technologies could be used to enhance or diminish love-related drives, emotions, and attachments.
The authors state this as an assumption.
Pharmaceuticals and other emerging technologies could be used to enhance or diminish love-related drives, emotions, and attachments.
“Granting, then, that pharmaceuticals and other emerging technologies could be used to “enhance” or “diminish” our love-related drives, emotions, and attachments, could such manipulations ever be justified?”
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Social Relationships and Mortality Risk: A Meta-analytic Review
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The Medicalization of Sexuality: Conceptual, Normative, and Professional Issues
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Health Consequences of Marriage for the Retirement Years
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Self-citationON GOOD AND BAD FORMS OF MEDICALIZATION
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The Medicalization of Female Sexual Dysfunction: The Need for Caution
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If I Could Just Stop Loving You: Anti-Love Biotechnology and the Ethics of a Chemical Breakup
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Self-citationWhen is diminishment a form of enhancement? Rethinking the enhancement debate in biomedical ethics
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Self-citationNeuroenhancement of love and marriage: the chemicals between us.
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Self-citationPathological Child Psychiatry and the Medicalization of Childhood
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Wordsworth, W. (2000) · Cited by 110 · see citing works
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The Curse: Confronting the Last Unmentionable Taboo: Menstruation
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Biological factors in human sexuality
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Neurotechnology and Society (2010–2060)
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Medicalization, Medical Necessity, and Feminist Medicine
Purdy, L. (2001) · Bioethics · doi:10.1111/1467-8519.00235 · Cited by 72 · see citing works
Love: Neuroscience reveals all
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Medicalization, Social Control, and the Relief of Suffering
Davis, J. E. (2009) · doi:10.1002/9781444314786.ch10 · Cited by 59 · see citing works
Are You Morally Modified?: The Moral Effects of Widely Used Pharmaceuticals
Levy, N. L., Douglas, T., Kahane, G., Terbeck, S., Cowen, P. J., Hewstone, M., & Savulescu, J. (2014) · Philosophy, psychiatry & psychology · doi:10.1353/ppp.2014.0023 · Cited by 58 · see citing works
Self-citationEnhancement, Autonomy, and Authenticity
Juth, N. (2011) · doi:10.1002/9781444393552.ch3 · Cited by 55 · see citing works
Earp, B. D., Sandberg, A., & Savulescu, J. (2012) · Philosophy & Technology · doi:10.1007/s13347-012-0081-8 · Cited by 54 · see citing works
Self-citationWudarczyk, O. A., Earp, B. D., Guastella, A., & Savulescu, J. (2013) · Current Opinion in Psychiatry · doi:10.1097/yco.0b013e3283642e10 · Cited by 52 · cited 2× · see citing works
“See note 8, Wudarczyk et al. 2013, at 482.”
BackgroundSelf-citationEarp, B. D., Sandberg, A., & Savulescu, J. (2014) · AJOB Neuroscience · doi:10.1080/21507740.2013.863242 · Cited by 50 · see citing works
Self-citationLove and its effect on mental and physical health
Traupmann, J., & Hatfield, E. (1981) · Cited by 49 · see citing works
Lessons for Enhancement From the History of Cocaine and Amphetamine Use
Bell, S., Lucke, J. C., & Hall, W. (2012) · AJOB Neuroscience · doi:10.1080/21507740.2012.663056 · Cited by 41 · see citing works
Synofzik, M. (2009) · Neuroethics · doi:10.1007/s12152-008-9029-1 · Cited by 34 · see citing works
Gupta, K. (2012) · AJOB Neuroscience · doi:10.1080/21507740.2012.694391 · Cited by 27 · see citing works
NEUROREDUCTIONISM ABOUT SEX AND LOVE
Savulescu, J., & Earp, B. D. (2014) · Think · doi:10.1017/s1477175614000128 · Cited by 20 · see citing works
Self-citationThe Medicalization of Love and Narrow and Broad Conceptions of Human Well-Being
Nyholm, S. (2015) · Cambridge Quarterly of Healthcare Ethics · doi:10.1017/s0963180114000644 · Cited by 18 · see citing works
Ladd, B. (2005) · The New Scientist · Cited by 9 · see citing works
Anti-Love Biotechnologies: Integrating Considerations of the Social
Gupta, K. (2013) · The American Journal of Bioethics · doi:10.1080/15265161.2013.839771 · Cited by 7 · see citing works
Earp, B. D. (2012) · Philosophy now · Cited by 7 · see citing works
Self-citationNormality, Therapy, and Enhancement
Giubilini, A. (2015) · Cambridge Quarterly of Healthcare Ethics · doi:10.1017/s0963180114000656 · Cited by 6 · see citing works
Limitations in the bioethical analysis of medicalisation: The case of love drugs
Emmerich, N. (2015) · Social Theory & Health · doi:10.1057/sth.2015.20 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
Anti-Love or Anti-“Lifestyle”: Historical Reflections on Reparative Therapies for Homosexuality
Wahlert, L. (2013) · The American Journal of Bioethics · doi:10.1080/15265161.2013.840869 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
On Love, Ethics, Technology, and Neuroenhancement
FERRARO, D. (2015) · Cambridge Quarterly of Healthcare Ethics · doi:10.1017/s0963180115000146 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
<i>Amantes Sunt Amentes</i>: Pathologizing Love and the Meaning of Suffering
Aurenque, D., & McDougall, C. W. (2013) · The American Journal of Bioethics · doi:10.1080/15265161.2013.839759 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
Enck, G. (2013) · The American Journal of Bioethics · doi:10.1080/15265161.2013.839762 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
Hauskeller, M. (2015) · Cambridge Quarterly of Healthcare Ethics · doi:10.1017/s096318011400067x · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Minerva, F. (2015) · Cambridge Quarterly of Healthcare Ethics · doi:10.1017/s0963180115000134 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
When Love Hurts Children: Controlling the Feelings of Minors
Epright, M. C., & Waller, S. (2013) · The American Journal of Bioethics · doi:10.1080/15265161.2013.839754 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Anti-Love Biotechnology: Was It Not Better to Have Loved and Lost Than Never to Have Loved at All?
Garasic, M. D. (2013) · The American Journal of Bioethics · doi:10.1080/15265161.2013.839770 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
The Heart Outright: A Comment on “If I Could Just Stop Loving You”
McArthur, N. (2013) · The American Journal of Bioethics · doi:10.1080/15265161.2013.839773 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Randomization Should Be Disclosed to Potential Research Subjects
Binik, A., & Sheehan, M. (2013) · The American Journal of Bioethics · doi:10.1080/15265161.2013.849307 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
A Thomistic Account of Anti-Love Biotechnology
Boesch, B. (2013) · The American Journal of Bioethics · doi:10.1080/15265161.2013.839753 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Two Concerns about the Medicalization of Love
O'Reilly, M. (2015) · Cambridge Quarterly of Healthcare Ethics · doi:10.1017/s0963180115000158 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Bamford, R. (2015) · Cambridge Quarterly of Healthcare Ethics · doi:10.1017/s0963180114000668 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Little, N. (2014) · The New Scientist · doi:10.1016/s0262-4079(14)60278-5 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Involuntary Exposures to Love-Enhancing or Anti-Love Agents
Marchant, G. E., & Stevens, Y. A. (2013) · The American Journal of Bioethics · doi:10.1080/15265161.2013.839758 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Flagged first, then by citations
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Medicalization and epistemic injustice
Wardrope, A. (2014) · Medicine Health Care and Philosophy · doi:10.1007/s11019-014-9608-3 · Cited by 142 · see citing works
“…medicalization of love ought automatically to be opposed, Earp et al. suggest that—just as some find nature’s beauty enhanced, not diminished, by scientific understanding—it could be that, for some, ‘‘knowing how love works […] could help us be better at being in love’’ (Earp et al. 2014, p. 10).”
BackgroundAddicted to Love: What Is Love Addiction and When Should It Be Treated?
Earp, B. D., Wudarczyk, O. A., Foddy, B., & Savulescu, J. (2017) · Philosophy, psychiatry & psychology · doi:10.1353/ppp.2017.0011 · Cited by 123 · see citing works
“…starting place would be “traditional” therapies such as professional counselling, cognitive-behavioral techniques, psychoanalysis, or some combination of these and other widely-used treatment modalities that work primarily on the psycho-behavioral level (see Earp, Sandberg, and Savulescu 2015).”
BackgroundSelf-citationMedicalization and overdiagnosis: different but alike
Hofmann, B. (2016) · Medicine Health Care and Philosophy · doi:10.1007/s11019-016-9693-6 · Cited by 122 · see citing works
“…phenomena that have been medicalized are: shyness (Scott 2006), sorrow (Wakefield 2012; Bandini 2015), sadness (Horwitz and Wakefield 2007), love (Earp et al. 2015), addiction (Clark 2014), death (Goh 2012), poverty (Sadler et al. 2009), aging (Illich 1976), pregnancy, menopause, childbirth…”
BackgroundThe Ethics of Human Enhancement
Giubilini, A., & Sanyal, S. (2015) · Philosophy Compass · doi:10.1111/phc3.12208 · Cited by 107 · see citing works
The Routledge Handbook of Neuroethics
Johnson, L. S. M., & Rommelfanger, K. S. (2017) · Routledge eBooks · doi:10.4324/9781315708652 · Cited by 100 · see citing works
Schick, A. (2016) · Medical Humanities · doi:10.1136/medhum-2016-010951 · Cited by 84 · see citing works
Medicalisation and Overdiagnosis: What Society Does to Medicine
van Dijk, W., Faber, M. J., Tanke, M. A. C., Jeurissen, P., & Westert, G. P. (2016) · International Journal of Health Policy and Management · doi:10.15171/ijhpm.2016.121 · Cited by 76 · see citing works
Danaher, J., Nyholm, S., & Earp, B. D. (2018) · The American Journal of Bioethics · doi:10.1080/15265161.2017.1409823 · Cited by 70 · see citing works
Self-citationEarp, B. D. (2018) · Royal Institute of Philosophy Supplement · doi:10.1017/s1358246118000474 · Cited by 55 · see citing works
Self-citationWhy a Virtual Assistant for Moral Enhancement When We Could have a Socrates?
Lara, F. (2021) · Science and Engineering Ethics · doi:10.1007/s11948-021-00318-5 · Cited by 44 · see citing works
Nyholm, S., & Frank, L. E. (2019) · Techné Research in Philosophy and Technology · doi:10.5840/techne2019122110 · Cited by 39 · see citing works
“; see also Earp, Sandberg, and Savulescu 2015).”
Nowak, E. (2020) · Peter Lang D eBooks · doi:10.3726/b16974 · Cited by 38 · see citing works
Dévédec, N. L. (2018) · European Journal of Social Theory · doi:10.1177/1368431017750974 · Cited by 27 · see citing works
“These would also increase human empathy to pacify human relationships (Persson and Savulescu, 2012) or even pharmacologically optimize romantic relationships (Earp et al., 2013; 2015).”
BackgroundHerissone-Kelly, P. (2022) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781009299060 · Cited by 25 · see citing works
Managing the moral expansion of medicine
Hofmann, B. (2022) · BMC Medical Ethics · doi:10.1186/s12910-022-00836-2 · Cited by 23 · see citing works
“[50, 51], sexual orientation [52, 53] or identity [54, 55], social behavior (ADHD) [56], and love [57] are but a few examples.”
BackgroundThe Medicalization of Love and Narrow and Broad Conceptions of Human Well-Being
Nyholm, S. (2015) · Cambridge Quarterly of Healthcare Ethics · doi:10.1017/s0963180114000644 · Cited by 18 · see citing works
“See note 6, Earp et al. 2015, at 325.”
InfluentialEarp, B. D., & Savulescu, J. (2017) · Technology in Society · doi:10.1016/j.techsoc.2017.02.001 · Cited by 18 · see citing works
“…Savulescu, and Andersen (2013); Robson and Earp (2014); Earp, Sandberg, and Savulescu (2014); Savulescu and Earp (2014); Earp and Savulescu (2016); Earp, Sandberg, and Savulescu (2015, 2016); Vierra and Earp (2015); Earp, Wudarczyk, Foddy, and Savulescu (in press); Earp, Foddy, Wudarczyk, and…”
BackgroundSelf-citationMedicalization Defined in Empirical Contexts – A Scoping Review
van Dijk, W., Meinders, M., Tanke, M., Westert, G., & Jeurissen, P. P. T. (2019) · International Journal of Health Policy and Management · doi:10.15171/ijhpm.2019.101 · Cited by 23 · see citing works
“14,15 On the other hand, Hofmann has argued that this resulted in medicalization becoming too much of an all-embracing term, and losing its critical value.”
Earp, B. D., Sandberg, A., & Savulescu, J. (2016) · Cambridge Quarterly of Healthcare Ethics · doi:10.1017/s0963180116000542 · Cited by 18 · see citing works
Self-citationLantian, A., Boudesseul, J., & Cova, F. (2024) · AJOB Neuroscience · doi:10.1080/21507740.2024.2326923 · Cited by 18 · see citing works
Danaher, J., Nyholm, S., & Earp, B. D. (2018) · The American Journal of Bioethics · doi:10.1080/15265161.2017.1422294 · Cited by 16 · see citing works
Self-citationIs There Such a Thing as a Love Drug?: Reply to McGee
Earp, B. D., & Savulescu, J. (2016) · Philosophy, psychiatry & psychology · doi:10.1353/ppp.2016.0007 · Cited by 11 · see citing works
Self-citationIs There Such a Thing as a Love Drug?
McGee, A. J. (2016) · Philosophy, psychiatry & psychology · doi:10.1353/ppp.2016.0006 · Cited by 9 · see citing works
Neuroética en México: Reflexiones médicas, legales y socioculturales
Herrera-Ferrá, K., Zavala, G. S., Sánchez, H. N., & Rivas, H. P. (2019) · Bioethics Update · doi:10.1016/j.bioet.2019.05.001 · Cited by 8 · see citing works
Love Addiction: Reply to Jenkins and Levy
Earp, B. D., Foddy, B., Wudarczyk, O. A., et al. (2017) · Philosophy, psychiatry & psychology · doi:10.1353/ppp.2017.0014 · Cited by 8 · see citing works
Self-citationJuth, N., & Lynöe, N. (2014) · BMC Medical Ethics · doi:10.1186/1472-6939-15-89 · Cited by 7 · see citing works
Normality, Therapy, and Enhancement
Giubilini, A. (2015) · Cambridge Quarterly of Healthcare Ethics · doi:10.1017/s0963180114000656 · Cited by 6 · see citing works
Caraccio, M., Cheung, K., Mann, S. P., Bruce, L., Jacobs, E., Villiger, D., Sandbrink, J. D., Register, C., Hannikainen, I. R., Høeg, M. L., et al. (2025) · Philosophical Psychology · doi:10.1080/09515089.2025.2532761 · Cited by 8 · see citing works
“This could even apply in areas such as close relationships – as we explore in the following section – where we might question the wisdom in over-applying the lenses of pathology and treatment (Earp et al., 2015).”
Self-citationNeuroenhancement: State of the Art and Future Perspectives.
Marazziti, D., Avella, M. T., Ivaldi, T., Palermo, S., Massa, L., Vecchia, A. D., Basile, L., & Mucci, F. (2021) · PubMed Central · doi:10.36131/cnfioritieditore20210303 · Cited by 6 · see citing works
“However, we would underline that bond-promoting compounds involve the risk for excessive “medicalization” of human relationships and feelings, such as love, while scrambling their authenticity (Davis, 2010; Earp et al., 2015).”
BackgroundLimitations in the bioethical analysis of medicalisation: The case of love drugs
Emmerich, N. (2015) · Social Theory & Health · doi:10.1057/sth.2015.20 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
Minerva, F. (2015) · Cambridge Quarterly of Healthcare Ethics · doi:10.1017/s0963180115000134 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
On Love, Ethics, Technology, and Neuroenhancement
FERRARO, D. (2015) · Cambridge Quarterly of Healthcare Ethics · doi:10.1017/s0963180115000146 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
“See note 1, Earp et al. 2015.”
Egoistic Love of the Nonhuman World? Biology and the Love Paradox
Aaltola, E. (2021) · Ethics Policy & Environment · doi:10.1080/21550085.2021.1885245 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
“This act of reduction finds support from empirical studies, which show that the mere introduction of oxytocin to our bloodstream can make us feel love (as attachment) toward strangers, whilst its removal may push us out of such love (Earp et al., 2015).”
ResultEmmerich, N. (2024) · Neuroethics · doi:10.1007/s12152-024-09571-4 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Hauskeller, M. (2015) · Cambridge Quarterly of Healthcare Ethics · doi:10.1017/s096318011400067x · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Moving Beyond Concerns of Autonomy
Enck, G. (2015) · AJOB Neuroscience · doi:10.1080/21507740.2015.1094543 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Earp, B. D., & Hauskeller, M. (2016) · The American Journal of Bioethics · doi:10.1080/15265161.2015.1120812 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Self-citationCastro, M. A. (2024) · Salud Colectiva · doi:10.18294/sc.2024.5388 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Herissone-Kelly, P. (2022) · Cambridge Quarterly of Healthcare Ethics · doi:10.1017/s0963180122000196 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
“See, for example, note 2, Savulescu, Sandberg 2008, at 33, 35, and 37; Earp et al. 2015, at 324.”
BackgroundA Responsibility to Chemically Help Patients with Relationships and Love?
Enck, G., & Ford, J. (2015) · Cambridge Quarterly of Healthcare Ethics · doi:10.1017/s096318011500016x · Cited by 2 · see citing works
“These conditions would entail that the intervention would (1) be expected to improve the individual’s (and/or couple’s) well-being, all things considered; (2) be undertaken voluntarily and under conditions of informed consent; (3) help the individual patient (or couple) fulfi ll his or her higher-order goals or values…”
BackgroundResultTwo Concerns about the Medicalization of Love
O'Reilly, M. (2015) · Cambridge Quarterly of Healthcare Ethics · doi:10.1017/s0963180115000158 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
“See note 1, Earp et al. 2015, at 331.”
Bamford, R. (2015) · Cambridge Quarterly of Healthcare Ethics · doi:10.1017/s0963180114000668 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
“See also note 4, Earp et al. 2015, at 328.”
THE EVOLUTION OF HUMAN BIRTH AND TRANSHUMANIST PROPOSALS OF ENHANCEMENT
Cruz, E. R. (2015) · Zygon® · doi:10.1111/zygo.12217 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Nyholm, S., Earp, B. D., & Danaher, J. (2019) · AJOB Neuroscience · doi:10.1080/21507740.2019.1665137 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Self-citationEnhancements 2.0: Self-Creation Might not be as Lovely as Some Think
Garasic, M. D. (2017) · Topoi · doi:10.1007/s11245-017-9469-5 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Pettit on Love and Its Value: A Critical Assessment
Nyholm, S. (2018) · Moral Philosophy and Politics · doi:10.1515/mopp-2017-0019 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
“…recently been represented in the work of 88 S. Nyholm ethicists like Julian Savulescu, Anders Sandberg, and Brian Earp (Savulescu and Sandberg 2008; Earp, Sandberg, and Savulescu 2015).1 Another way of approaching love within philosophy and ethics is via love’s guise as a core practical value…”
BackgroundMacGregor, O. (2015) · Cambridge Quarterly of Healthcare Ethics · doi:10.1017/s0963180115000171 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Love and romantic relationship in the domain of medicine
Okwenna, C. M. (2022) · Medicine Health Care and Philosophy · doi:10.1007/s11019-022-10127-7 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
“For them, it is likely that the positive effects of making love a medical issue outweigh the negative effects (Earp et al. 2015).”
BackgroundAminnejad, R. (2022) · Interventional Pain Medicine and Neuromodulation · doi:10.5812/ipmn.115487 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Pismenny, A. (2018) · CUNY Academic Works (City University of New York) · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Lantian, A., Boudesseul, J., & Cova, F. (2023) · doi:10.31234/osf.io/572wa · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Hauskeller, M. (2016) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-319-39741-2_7
Voultsos, P. P. (2017) · Global Journal of Fertility and Research · doi:10.17352/gjfr.000007
“Moreover, it is argued that marriage and happy pair-bond love relationships promote well-being (happiness, feeling of social safety, life satisfaction) [34,35].”
BackgroundNavigating Polyamory and the Law
Carnes, E. (2020) · doi:10.12794/metadc1752402
Detraditionalization, mental illness reports, and mental health professional care use in Europe
Pop, I. A., Roosma, F., & Achterberg, P. (2023) · European Sociological Review · doi:10.1093/esr/jcac077
Romantic Remedies: A Look at the Morality of Love Drugs
Kubheka, B., Muiruri, E. N., Mnisi, F. M., & Matloa, R. M. (2024) · AJOB Neuroscience · doi:10.1080/21507740.2024.2402228
How does one synthetically produce love?
Tapio, H. (2025) · Technoetic Arts · doi:10.1386/tear_00142_1
- Authors
- EARP, B. D., SANDBERG, A., & SAVULESCU, J.
- Venue
- Cambridge Quarterly of Healthcare Ethics
- Publisher
- Cambridge University Press (CUP)
- Published
- 2014-06-17
- Volume
- 24
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 323-336
- ISSN
- 0963-1801 (ISSN-L)
- 1469-2147
- PMC
- PMC4712680
- OpenAlex
- W2104784353
- Cited by
- 57
- References
- 72
- Citations by year
- 2025: 2 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 6 · 2016: 8 · 2015: 13 · 2014: 2
- FWCI
- 4.91
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Locations
- Cambridge Quarterly of Healthcare Ethics (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- PhilPapers (PhilPapers Foundation) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neuroethics, Human Enhancement, Biomedical Innovations
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Ethics and bioethics in healthcare
- Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Information Systems › Bioethics and Human Rights Issues
- Keywords
- romantic relationships, emotion regulation, attachment, lust, bioethics, ethics of technology, heartbreak, well-being
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Drug Therapy, Emotions, Humans, Interpersonal Relations, Love, Morals
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