Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Sternberg's Triangular Theory of Love

Sternberg's Triangular Theory of Love

We typically love the people with whom we form relationships, but the type of love we have for our family, friends, and lovers differs. Robert Sternberg (1986) proposed that there are three components of love: intimacy, passion, and commitment. These three components form a triangle that defines multiple types of love: this is known as Sternberg’s triangular theory of love. Intimacy is the sharing of details and intimate thoughts and emotions. Passion is the physical attraction—the...

Understanding Love

Understanding Love

Love, as a multifaceted psychological construct, encompasses emotions, cognitive processes, and behavioral patterns that play a crucial role in human relationships. It extends beyond attraction, manifesting in deep, enduring connections that influence personal well-being and social structures.Psychological Dimensions of LoveLove differs from friendship and mere liking through its depth and intensity. While friendship is built on mutual respect, trust, and companionship, love involves emotional...

Passionate Love

Passionate Love

Passionate love is a powerful emotional and physiological state that plays a significant role in human relationships. It is characterized by an intense longing for connection with another person and is often considered the foundation of romantic attraction. Psychological research identifies three fundamental components of passionate love: cognition, emotion, and behavior.Cognitive AspectsCognition in passionate love involves idealization and persistent thoughts about the loved one. Individuals...

Relationship Formation

Relationship Formation

What do you think is the single most influential factor in determining with whom you become friends and whom you form romantic relationships? You might be surprised to learn that the answer is simple: the people with whom you have the most contact. This most important factor is proximity. You are more likely to be friends with people you have regular contact with. For example, there are decades of research that shows that you are more likely to become friends with people who live in your dorm,...

Five-Factor Theory of Personality

Five-Factor Theory of Personality

The five-factor model, often called the Big Five personality traits, is widely accepted in psychology as a comprehensive framework for understanding personality. These five traits — Openness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, and Neuroticism — are often remembered using the acronym OCEAN.
Openness reflects creativity, curiosity, and openness to new experiences. Individuals scoring high in openness are imaginative, have a wide range of interests, and are independent...

Factors Influencing Attraction IV: Reciprocity

Factors Influencing Attraction IV: Reciprocity

Reciprocity in attraction is fundamental to social and romantic relationships, shaping how individuals form and maintain connections. The psychological principle underlying this phenomenon is that people tend to like those who express liking toward them. Balance theory supports this tendency, suggesting that mutual attraction fosters psychological harmony, whereas one-sided affection leads to discomfort and cognitive dissonance.The Psychological Mechanisms Behind ReciprocityWhen individuals...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Beyond significance: Toward a more dynamic, relational, and culturally inclusive framework on love.

The Behavioral and brain sciences·2026

Same author

Speaking the Public's Love Language: How Engaging with Lay Theories Can Build a Rigorous and Resonant Science of Relationships.

Personality and social psychology review : an official journal of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, Inc·2026

Same author

"I Know How to Identify and Communicate My Needs": A Qualitative Study of the Self-Perceived Strengths of People in Polyamorous Relationships.

Journal of marital and family therapy·2026

Same author

Least Equal When Most Teachable: The Biodevelopmental Learning Opportunities and Outcomes Model of Gender Differences in Sexuality.

Personality and social psychology review : an official journal of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, Inc·2026

Same author

The Hidden Costs of Gratitude: Gratitude Amplification Is Costly for Personal and Relationship Well-Being.

Personality & social psychology bulletin·2025

Same author

Turning Down, Tuning In: How Mindfulness Shapes Sexual Rejection, Relationship Satisfaction, and Sexual Satisfaction.

Journal of sex research·2025

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 18, 2026

Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Hyperscanning Study in Psychological Counseling

Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Hyperscanning Study in Psychological Counseling

Published on: January 17, 2025

How Many Love Languages Are There? Examining Chapman's Five Love Languages Using a Bottom-Up Approach.

Sharon M Flicker¹, Flavia Sancier-Barbosa², Channing Clemons-Castanos¹

¹Department of Psychology, California State University, Sacramento, Sacramento, California, USA.

Journal of Marital and Family Therapy

|September 8, 2025

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Researchers found that the popular Five Love Languages model may be too narrow. Expanding this framework to include more ways of expressing love can better predict relationship quality and aid therapists.

Keywords:

assessment intimate relationships love languages perceived love relationship quality scale development

More Related Videos

RBDT: A Computerized Task System based in Transposition for the Continuous Analysis of Relational Behavior Dynamics in Humans

RBDT: A Computerized Task System based in Transposition for the Continuous Analysis of Relational Behavior Dynamics in Humans

Published on: July 17, 2021

Applying an eMASS Customization Program as a Research Tool to Evaluate Consumer Benefits

Applying an eMASS Customization Program as a Research Tool to Evaluate Consumer Benefits

Published on: September 27, 2019

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jan 18, 2026

Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Hyperscanning Study in Psychological Counseling

Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Hyperscanning Study in Psychological Counseling

Published on: January 17, 2025

RBDT: A Computerized Task System based in Transposition for the Continuous Analysis of Relational Behavior Dynamics in Humans

RBDT: A Computerized Task System based in Transposition for the Continuous Analysis of Relational Behavior Dynamics in Humans

Published on: July 17, 2021

Applying an eMASS Customization Program as a Research Tool to Evaluate Consumer Benefits

Applying an eMASS Customization Program as a Research Tool to Evaluate Consumer Benefits

Published on: September 27, 2019

Area of Science:

Psychology
Relationship Science
Social Psychology

Background:

The Five Love Languages framework is widely adopted in public and therapeutic settings.
Existing models may not fully encompass the diverse ways individuals express and receive love.

Purpose of the Study:

To revise and expand the measurement of love languages.
To investigate if a more comprehensive model better predicts relationship quality.

Main Methods:

Utilized a bottom-up approach with exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses across three studies.
Included a large sample of individuals in long-term relationships in the United States (N=1695).

Main Results:

Solutions with 7 to 10 love languages demonstrated superior fit to the data compared to the original 5-factor model.
Expanded love language models showed improved prediction of relationship quality.

Conclusions:

Chapman's Five Love Languages model may be overly restrictive.
An expanded framework offers a more nuanced understanding of relational needs and can enhance relationship therapy interventions.