So you walk into a bar and catch someone’s eye, you start talking and suddenly feel like you’ve known them forever. Suddenly you have an eerie feeling you’ve met Mr or Mrs Right. But that’s a bit bonkers isn’t it? Does that truly happen? Is it like the moment in the James Cameron epic Titanic where Jack and Rose, played by Leo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet, clap eyes on each other – and the chemistry is instant?
Do you believe in Love at first sight?
One of my friends Ben claimed he just “knew” the second he caught the eye of his now-wife at a work conference that they would end up walking down the aisle and making beautiful babies, while I’ve known other people who say very quickly that they think they’ve found the one and just weeks later the romance has died a death.
Science has found a grain of truth in the notion after a study where researchers paired off students and followed the progress of their relationships. Those who had become closest had known very soon after meeting that that would be the outcome. They concluded that it takes just a few minutes to fall in love in a surprising number of cases.
Another study found that men experience love at first sight more often than women. Researchers thought this might be due to the fact that men respond to physical cues more readily then women and women take time to develop trust in their partners.
Another poll, by Gallup, also showed that people might be more inclined to believe in love at first sight when they are younger, and people over 50 believe in the phenomenon less than others.
One survey in Israel showed that 10 per cent of people believed their romance started in this way.
However, other experts say that while people can find instant attraction, true love means getting to know each other over time.
What do you think? Do you believe in love at first sight? Tell us @lovestruck
Tweet
