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Related Experiment Videos

Love and the commitment problem in romantic relations and friendship.

G C Gonzaga1, D Keltner, E A Londahl

  • 1Department of Psychology, Univesity of California, Berkeley 94720-3210, USA. zaga@uclink4.berkeley.edu

Journal of Personality and Social Psychology
|August 25, 2001
PubMed
Summary

Love motivates relationship commitment by fostering approach behaviors and distinct nonverbal cues. These love signals correlate with commitment-enhancing processes, especially when relationships face threats, strengthening bonds.

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Area of Science:

  • Psychology
  • Social Psychology
  • Relationship Science

Background:

  • Theories suggest love is a primary motivator for relationship commitment.
  • Understanding the behavioral and emotional correlates of love is crucial for relationship science.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate if love motivates approach behaviors and has distinct nonverbal signals.
  • To examine the correlation between love and commitment-enhancing processes during relationship threats.

Main Methods:

  • Studied romantic partners and adolescent friends during interactions designed to elicit love and threat.
  • Measured approach-related states, nonverbal affiliation cues, and commitment-enhancing processes.

Main Results:

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  • Love experience correlated with approach states like desire and sympathy.
  • Four affiliation cues (head nods, Duchenne smiles, gesticulation, forward leans) signaled love.
  • Love experience and display correlated with constructive conflict resolution and trust when relationships were threatened.

    • Conclusions:

    • Love actively promotes commitment through approach motivation and distinct displays.
    • Nonverbal cues of love are associated with relationship maintenance under stress.
    • Love is intrinsically linked to positive emotions and relationship stability.