Attraction plays an essential role in brand love. Material attraction for a brand includes attributes like superior design, quality, and aesthetics, price, benefits, etc. Research on brand love has found that brand attractive attributes such as prestige or uniqueness influence brand passion which affects relevant factors such as purchase intention (Bauer et al., 2007). Connection is key to commitment, caregiving, and intimacy. It creates a sense of oneness in relationships and it is strengthened by proximity, familiarity, similarity, and positive shared experiences (Sullivan et al., 2011; Beckes et al., 2013). Homogeneity or similarity has been observed to increase social capital and engagement among people (Costa and Kahn, 2003a, b), and it has been described as foundational to human relationships (Tobore, 2018, pp. 6–13).
Love psychology is a field that delves into the complexities of human emotions and relationships. It seeks to understand the various factors that influence our feelings of love, attraction, and attachment towards others.
The Science of Attraction
Love will awaken at the sight and sound of possibility, even if it has to wait a while to be experienced. Philia denotes friendship between and among people. The city of Philidelphia is known as the city of “brotherly love.” Friendship and brotherly affection suggest mutual trust, affection, and harmony. Friends have each other’s backs as they can confide in and protect each other. Interestingly, she found that “due to their inconsistencies in fulfilling Sternberg’s viewed loving components…adolescents are not capable of being consummately in love” (Deverich, 2009, p. 21). This kind of love can also be thought of as “liking with an added element, namely, the arousal brought about by physical attraction and its concomitants” (Sternberg, 1986, p. 124).
One of the key areas of study in love psychology is the science of attraction. Researchers have found that physical appearance, personality traits, and even proximity can play a role in how we perceive and are drawn to potential partners. The concept of “chemistry” between two people is often attributed to a combination of biological, psychological, and social factors.
The Role of Attachment
Attachment theory is another important aspect of love psychology. This theory suggests that the way we form attachments in childhood can impact our adult relationships. For example, individuals who had secure attachments with caregivers are more likely to have healthy, fulfilling relationships later in life.
Mutual communal responsiveness or caregiving in relationships in which partners attend to one another’s needs and welfare is done because they are confident that the other will do the same when or if their own needs arise (Clark and Monin, 2006). Trust is the belief that a partner is, and will remain, reliable or dependable (Cook, 2003). Hendrick and Hendrick’s (1986), Love Attitudes Scale (LAS) which measures six types of love (Hendrick and Hendrick, 1986) is at its core based on the AAC model.
If love is not acknowledged, is thrown aside or not honored, it dies. But most often, just a little bit at a time, it is struggling to stay until it can no longer. When it diminishes, it is never easy to coax it back into existence, no matter what is done. Beware of “too little, too late.” So often people remember when love was crying out to ears and hearts that would or could not listen. Like a fire that dies for lack of fuel, lost love has no embers.
According to the theory, “true” (i.e., consummate) love is achieved when all three components are achieved. This component of love also tends to cause a moderate psychophysiological response in people (Sternberg, 1986). Robert Sternberg introduced his theory of love in a 1986 paper titled “A triangular theory of love” (Sternberg, 1986). This article will lay out the fundamental ideas of his theory discussed in this paper.
You have to identify what the other person needs, and find a way to meet that need. For example, a young woman harbored feelings for this guy since they attended the same classes the previous year. He’s smart, he’s friendly, but he also happens to easily get shy around people, especially those he isn’t close to. It’s clear he has problems with his confidence when he’s out of his comfort zone. The young woman grabs his attention by showing how confident she is, and he finds himself drawn to her, a spark of interest kindled. Having your lovemap or checklist of criteria is not enough.
On the other hand, those with insecure attachments may struggle with intimacy and trust issues. Love psychologists work with individuals and couples to help them understand their attachment styles and how it may be affecting their relationships.
Table 1 shows the core factors of love, and the four factors derived from them. Attachment and caregiving reinforce each other in relationships. Evidence suggests that sustained caregiving is frequently accompanied by the growth of familiarity between the caregiver and the receiver (Bowlby, 1989, p. 115) strengthening attachment (Berscheid, 2010). Participants in Brown’s study alternately viewed a photograph of their beloved and a photograph of a familiar person. Psychologists and researchers have proposed several different theories of love to explain how it forms as well as how it endures.
The Psychology of Breakups
Love psychology also encompasses the study of breakups and heartbreak. Research shows that going through a breakup can activate similar brain regions associated with physical pain. Understanding the psychological processes involved in a breakup can help individuals heal and move on from past relationships.
In conclusion, love psychology offers valuable insights into the complexities of human relationships and emotions. By studying the science of attraction, attachment theory, and the psychology of breakups, researchers and therapists can help individuals navigate the ups and downs of love and intimacy.
