An analogy between everyday and natural phenomena, in a popular science book. Here the scientific concepts are used as the analogy, and the everyday experience as the target to be explained by analogy.*
"Our relationships are subject to the same threat of decay, likely to die out if we lose the ability to undergo emotional mitosis, continuing to evolve and specialise in changing circumstances – as both our needs and those of our partner change. At the other extreme, a relationship can go too fast and become too intense to bear, in the same way that a cell which has mutated and can't stop dividing has become cancerous, growing out of control and starting to attack the body."
Dr Camilla Pang
Pang, C. (2020) Explaining Humans. What science can teach us about life, love and relationships. Viking.
Read examples of scientific analogies
* I asked the AI Assistant built into website building tools to explain the analogy, and it suggested:
Dr. Camilla Pang uses a compelling biological metaphor to draw parallels between human relationships and cellular processes. The term emotional mitosis suggests the natural division and evolution of feelings within a relationship. Just as cells divide to grow and adapt, relationships need to evolve and change to stay vibrant and healthy.
AI assistant
When she states that relationships can "die out if we lose the ability to undergo emotional mitosis," she means that without growth and adaptation to new circumstances, or the evolving needs of each person involved, relationships may stagnate and eventually end.
On the other hand, she warns of the dangers of a relationship becoming "too fast and too intense to bear," comparing it to a cell that has mutated. Normally, cellular division is a regulated process. However, when a cell mutates and begins to divide uncontrollably, it can become cancerous, spreading and harming the body. Similarly, a relationship that becomes excessively intense in a short time can be overwhelming and destructive. The healthy balance of growth and intensity is crucial in both living organisms and human relationships.
