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Love as a lived experience.

Arie W Kruglanski¹, Edward P Lemay¹, Sophia Moskalenko²

¹Department of Psychology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA kruglanski@gmail.com.

The Behavioral and Brain Sciences

|May 27, 2026

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

The Merit-Appreciation (M-A) love model was refined to show how relationship significance varies with life stage, novelty, and other life sources. This model helps understand romantic love's complexities and enhance well-being.

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Area of Science:

Psychology
Sociology
Relationship Science

Background:

Romantic love is a universal human experience, yet its significance and expression vary across cultures and life stages.
Existing models of love may not fully capture the dynamic interplay of factors influencing its perceived importance in individuals' lives.

Purpose of the Study:

To refine and extend the Merit-Appreciation (M-A) love model.
To explore how personal and life circumstances influence the significance derived from romantic love.

Main Methods:

Conceptual analysis and model refinement based on existing commentaries and research.
Integration of factors such as life phases, individual merit, relationship novelty, and alternative sources of significance.

Main Results:

The revised M-A model emphasizes flexibility: the balance of Merit vs. Appreciation shifts with life phase and individual self-worth.
Relationship novelty enhances significance; shared novel experiences can revitalize love.
The importance of romantic love as a significance source is influenced by the availability of other life domains (e.g., career, other relationships), with cultural variations noted.

Conclusions:

The M-A model offers a unique analytical level for understanding love as a lived experience, compatible with broader theories.
The model provides insights into navigating love's challenges to promote happiness and well-being.
Romantic love, while culturally nuanced, remains a fundamental aspect of human connection across societies.