The Psychology of Love: Why We Love Things & How It Shapes Us – with Aaron Ahuvia

What does it mean to love something—a car, a brand, a hobby—and how does that love shape our identity, happiness, and behaviour? In this soulful and thought-provoking episode, Tobi sits down with Aaron Ahuvia, a top 2% scientist and bestselling author of The Things We Love, to explore the fascinating psychology of love beyond romance. Together, they unpack how our passions connect us, how branding taps into emotional bonds, and why our consumer choices may reflect our deepest selves. Whether you're a marketer, a brand-builder, or just a curious soul wanting to better understand your attachment to the things around you, this episode is for you. 🧠 What You'll Learn:What brand love means and how it formsWhy we love objects and how it affects our happinessThe line between healthy passion and destructive materialismHow love evolved to help us survive—and now guides what we buyWhat companies and creators can do to make their brand belovedHow to reconnect your identity with the things that truly matterThe surprising science of how possessions impact our relationships 🔥 Notable Quotes: "Everything is marketing, even dating." "People respond with love to love." "Love is a mechanism for helping us care—even about objects." 🧭 Episode Chapters:00:00 – Introduction to Aaron Ahuvia & the Psychology of Love02:54 – Defining Love Beyond Relationships05:21 – The Evolutionary Purpose of Love08:12 – Loving Things vs. Loving People11:12 – Letting Go of Attachments19:53 – The Role of Identity in What We Love25:36 – Understanding & Building Brand Love31:27 – Materialism, Income, and True Happiness37:27 – Healthy Attachments and Life Satisfaction 🌐 Guest Links: 📖 Book: The Things We Love 🌍 Website: https://thethingswelove.com/ 🎧 Listen Now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts & Everywhere You Tune Into Soulful Conversations CONFESSIONS is now available: https://mirrortalkpodcast.com/confessions-book/ Thank you for joining me on this MIRROR TALK podcast journey. Kindly subscribe to any platform. Please do not forget to leave a review and rating. Let us stay connected: ⁠https://linktr.ee/mirrortalkpodcast⁠  More inspiring episodes and show notes are here: ⁠https://mirrortalkpodcast.com/podcast-episodes/⁠⁠ Your opinions, thoughts, suggestions and comments matter to us. Share them here: ⁠https://mirrortalkpodcast.com/your-opinion-matters/⁠ Invest in us by becoming a Patreon. Please support us by subscribing to one or more of the offerings that we have available at ⁠http://patreon.com/MirrorTalk⁠  All proceeds will improve the quality of our work and outreach. To serve you better.  Try out ElevenLabs for free: https://try.elevenlabs.io/8oveg6dyus8a