The science behind heartbreak: How to move on, and is there a cure?

Hosted by Jonathan Bastian May. 07, 2022 Science

When couples break up or divorce, the heartbreak can be debilitating, often taking years to recover and move on. What makes a broken heart so painful, and is there a cure? Photo by Shutterstock.

Jonathan Bastian talks with Florence Williams, science writer and author of “Heartbreak: A Personal and Scientific Journey,” about the pain that comes with a breakup and why it’s so hard to move on. Later, Sandra Langeslag, associate professor of psychological sciences at the University of Missouri-St. Louis and Aimee Lutkin, writer, performer, and the author of “The Lonely Hunter: How Our Search for Love Is Broken: A Memoir,” discuss the cure for heartbreak and misconceptions about coupledom.

From this Episode:

The anatomy of heartbreak

Science writer Florence Williams provides a personal and scientific perspective on heartbreak. She says “it’s like a death, but without the body.”

31 min

The psychology of heartbreak and strategies for singledom

Scientist Sandra Langeslag explains strategies for overcoming heartbreak. Writer Aimee Lutkin explores singledom and why her identity is so tied to her relationship status.

21 min