Ball pythons also don't get depressed--only stressed.

A ball python that has just eaten wants to be left alone in a nice warm place so that it can properly digest its meal. Handling and stress interfere with digestion.

Hiding its head is a defensive gesture. That's what ball pythons do--it's why they are called ball pythons. They ball up and hide their head when they feel threatened.

Learn to respect your ball python's moods and needs. Even if it is USUALLY ok with handling, it's better for the snake if you leave it alone for a day after it eats, and DEFINITELY leave it alone when it's opaque (getting ready to shed)--handling during that time can damage the new skin forming underneath the old one, and you don't want to harm your snake, do you? Shedding ball pythons look miserable, by the way--they hide out over the heat continuously, and rarely move, and they can be irritable and snap because they can't see.

If the snake hisses at you, snaps at you, flees, or balls up and hides its head--let it be. Sometimes my snakes are ok with handling, and sometimes they really want to be left alone, and that's the best way they have of letting us know they're not in the mood.

Also, always be aware of the fact that your snake has poor vision. It recognizes you more by scent than by sight. If you come up on it quickly, you may startle it, and be bitten, because it didn't recognize you immediately.

Obviously no one is going to convince you that the snake doesn't love you, but perhaps one day you will finish your education, take some science classes, etc, and realize that those parts of the brain aren't there in a snake. It's not mysterious at all. Incapable is just that--the hardware necessary for love isn't there. It's like insisting that a bird with no feathers can fly.