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Proximate and Ultimate Perspectives on Romantic Love.
1Human Behavioural Ecology Research Group, School of Archaeology and Anthropology, ANU College of Arts and Social Sciences, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia.
Frontiers in Psychology
|April 29, 2021
Summary
Romantic love, a complex human emotion, is explored through an evolutionary biology framework. This review synthesizes research on its mechanisms, development, function, and evolutionary history, proposing a new definition.
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary Biology
- Psychology
- Anthropology
Background:
- Romantic love is a universal human experience studied across disciplines.
- Understanding its origins and functions is crucial for comprehending human social behavior.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review and integrate existing knowledge on romantic love using Tinbergen's four questions.
- To propose a novel, ethologically informed definition of romantic love.
Main Methods:
- Integrative review of scientific literature.
- Application of Tinbergen's framework (mechanism, development, function, phylogeny).
Main Results:
- Romantic love involves complex genetic, neural, endocrine, and psychological mechanisms.
- It develops across the lifespan, influenced by internal and external factors, with cross-cultural variations.
- Its function relates to fitness benefits in mate choice, pair-bonding, and reproduction.
- Evolutionary history suggests a co-evolution with pair-bonding in recent ancestors.
Conclusions:
- Romantic love is a suite of adaptations and by-products shaped by evolutionary pressures.
- Further research is needed to address outstanding questions and refine our understanding.
- A multi-faceted, ethologically informed definition is proposed to capture its complexity.
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