Must be Love on the Brain…

Redwoods students and faculty discuss teenage love, noting that while gifts can be appealing, they may create unrealistic expectations. It highlights the role of hormones in emotions and stresses the importance of healthy boundaries as teens’ brains develop. 

By: Chloe Falcon-Barros 

On Valentine’s Day, you might consider buying your partner a lovely heart as a gift, but the price could be high. 

Relying on gifts, money, or other material things to win your significant other’s heart can often lead to a desire for more. 

Would you go the extra mile just to savor the sweetness of your relationship? You wouldn’t want your partner to feel overwhelmed or distant, fearing they might stop loving you. 

This could leave you wanting more and feeling like you can’t get enough. 

Must it be love on the brain? 

From the wise words of Rihanna, love on the brain can affect a young student, releasing feel-good hormones like oxytocin, serotonin, and dopamine. 

Understanding the science behind these feelings can enhance our appreciation of them. 

When Redwood’s AP psychology teachers asked about these chemicals’ brain effects, Mrs. Browning and Ms. Jordan said, “And it’s true! Love is in the brain, we share love between friends, family, or romantically and although there is a variety of ways of showing love, it produces the same chemicals in our brain particularly the happy chemicals such as dopamine and serotonin- they put us in a good mood, we feel rewarded and motivated.” 

These hormones can enhance or make one feel “Love Struck,” although love can also make one feel “Love Stuck.” 

The phrase “Love Stuck” holds various meanings for different individuals. For some, it can signify feeling trapped in a relationship, regardless of whether it’s filled with love or lacking it entirely.

As seen when Juliet Lazcano, ’26, a student who was in a relationship says, “It wasn’t the same type of love that we had for each other, we just had different ways of expressing it. While he was in love with me I had only loved him. One love was bigger than the other.” 

When considering this, being a teenager in love can have its ups and downs. 

It’s one of the most stereotypical things a teenager can experience. However, since our brains—specifically our frontal lobes—are not fully developed yet, it can drastically affect our decision-making. 

Adding to this Mrs. Browning says, “Our frontal lobe isn’t fully developed until mid-twenties and so it’s important to consider having healthy boundaries in relationships both romantic and friendships- to remember to not give into peer pressure and not make impulsive decisions when emotions are fleeting.” 

Sometimes, the opinions of others can cloud our perspective. It’s amazing how external influences can shape our understanding of what we have. 

The people around us have a different view of others’ relationships, reflecting it on the couple, and putting their views in their heads.

Lascano adds, “The people around us had  a different view of our relationship reflecting it on us putting their own views in our heads.”

Although from a teacher’s perspective navigating teenage relationships, we often found ourselves surrounded by friends and family whose insights came with their own biases. Their perspectives, though well-intentioned, sometimes created confusion. 

The people around us had a different view of our relationship, reflecting it on us, and putting their own views in our heads.

Mrs. Browning says, “Love relationships are good for the developing teen, teens learn how to form social and emotional bonds and remember you don’t have to break the bank to show your love, some ideas, make a card with words of affirmation to your friends, family, bake them cookies!”

Ms. Jordan adds, “Spending quality time doing an activity they like, or perhaps offer help when they need it. But most importantly take care of the feelings of those you love because makes us a tad more sensitive, and if you’re not careful, aka heartbreak can be tough in our teen years.”

In today’s digital age, students are constantly exposed to various forms of media that shape their understanding of relationships. 

These constantly curated images and stories can significantly impact their perception of love and romance. 

As they consume content that idealizes specific relationship dynamics, it can lead to unrealistic expectations. 

Ultimately, navigating the complexities of teenage love requires a balance of emotional awareness, healthy boundaries, and a critical perspective on the often idealized portrayals of relationships in today’s media.

Lascono says, “Yes, because social media and TV all of that stuff has this same kind of perception of young love. Hollywood has this idolization of young love, seeing that it should be perfect.”

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