Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Romantic Love To Last Long Than Passionate Love

There is definitely a broader difference between romantic love and passionate love. A new study has revealed, contrary to different beliefs, romantic love can sustain a life time and can pave way for happier and healthier relationships.

Though the general belief goes by the sameness of romantic love and passionate love, lead researcher Bianca P. Acevedo, PhD, then at Stony Brook University (currently at University of California, Santa Barbara )says, "Many believe that romantic love is the same as passionate love,"

Acevedo said : "It isn't. Romantic love has the intensity, engagement and sexual chemistry that passionate love has, minus the obsessive component. Passionate or obsessive love includes feelings of uncertainty and anxiety. This kind of love helps drive the shorter relationships but not the longer ones,"

The researchers made a review of 25 studies comprising of 6,070 individuals in short- and long-term relationships to discern whether romantic love brings in more satisfaction. They hence classified the relationships that they took to study as romantic or passionate or a relationship that is of friendship like love and categorised them as short or long term.

The researchers went through 17 short-term relationship studies involving 18- to 23-year-old college students who were either single, dating or married, with relationships averagely lasting for four years.

They also examined 10 long-term relationship involving middle-aged couples who were married about 10 years or more.

Two other studies included both long and short term relationships which rendered the possibility to distinguish the two samples.


The obvious result was that those who were romantically in love without the obsession element were more satisfied and successful in both long term and short term relationships.

Relationships that was more like a companion like love were moderately satisfied in both short and long term relationships.

Those who were passionately involved were more satisfied in short term relationships when compared to long term.

Couples who showed more satisfaction in their relationships also reported of leading happier life coupled with high self-esteem.

According to Acevedo the feeling that a partner is ‘there for you’ paves way for a good relationship and breeds
feelings of romantic love.

The result of the study is found in the March issue of 'Review of General Psychology,' published by the American Psychological Association. 

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