Romantic Love, Solved
Mark and Drew put romantic love on trial: is it a neurochemical hijack that makes us delusional, or a vital foundation worth defending? This episode is a sharp, evidence-oriented debate on brain chemistry, how attraction can mask toxicity, and the arguments for love’s value.
February 18, 2026
1 hr 41 min
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91 of 103
February 18, 2026
Romantic Love, Solved
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Mark Manson Episodes Around February 18, 2026
Episode 91 of 103 — walk the feed in the order it was published.
1:41:32This episodeRomantic Love, Solved
Summary
We put love on trial — literally. Drew and I squared off in a full debate over whether romantic love is overrated. I made the case that love is basically your brain's con man, a neurochemical hijacking designed to make you delusional about deeply flawed people, and that the most intoxicating relationships are often the most toxic. Drew fought back with the evidence that love is the foundation of social infrastructure, physical health, and long-term happiness. By the end, we came to a gentlemen’s agreement: a framework that explains why we're all chasing the wrong kind of love, and what the right kind actually looks like.
CHAPTERS
(00:00) Introduction
(02:21) Love is the Brain's Conman
(23:33) Love as Social Infrastructure
(45:33) Love and Happiness
(01:07:14) We're Drawn to People Who Hurt Us
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