Learning about love

A lecture on love has become wildly popular in Wuhan University recently, with photos of the packed class circulating widely on social media—students were seen huddling at windows and forming long lines for the talk of the campus.

The beauty of love, presented by professor Yu Feng from the School of Philosophy, ignited students' passion for knowledge by applying psychology to the practice of intimate relations.

"The popularity of the class reflects students' longing for love and eagerness for psychological knowledge," said Yu. "For me, it's also a form of personal encouragement."

The purpose of the class is to help college students understand what goes behind a healthy, romantic relationship.

Based on psychological theory, the lecture aims to answer important questions about love — what it is, why it occurs and how to go about it, in a progressive manner.

According to the university's official WeChat account, Yu's definition of healthy love is selfless interaction between the couple; with both sides enjoying and maintaining intimate feelings in line with mutual commitment, unlike the fading of an initial crush.

True love, however, isn't cognitive dissonance as a result of being emotionally moved. In some ways, it should involve two-way adaptation, compromise and achievement.

Some pieces of advice:

①Stay away from gaslighting, or being manipulated by your counterpart.

②Keep effective communication to know more about your loved one.

③Extend your social circle to find your real love.

Many students enjoyed Yu's class. One of them said: "Professor Yu is amazing. He is a master in capturing students' needs and attention. In addition to lecturing on theories, he uses lively cases and plenty of visual tools. I like his course more than other professors' classes."

Another student said: "I've learned to understand love in a different mindset. Most people perceive love via their feelings, but his class told us to approach it through psychology. The most important thing for lovers is to seek common ground because it can raise their level of communication."