Romance (love)

General Definitions and Characteristics of Romantic Love

• Romantic love is a motivational state associated with a desire for long-term mating with a specific individual.
• It is characterized by distinctive cognitive, emotional, behavioral, social, genetic, neural, and endocrine activity.
• Romantic love serves mate choice, courtship, sex, and pair-bonding functions.
• It is a suite of adaptations and by-products that evolved in humans.
• Love involves intense attraction, idealization, and expectation of enduring into the future.

Historical Usage and Cultural Perspectives

• The word 'romance' initially indicated a verse narrative in French.
• European medieval tales and ballads primarily focused on chivalric adventure before incorporating the concept of love.
• The term 'romance' developed other meanings, such as adventurous and passionate, in the 19th century.
• Anthropologists suggest that ancient and primitive societies had complex forms of courtship but may not have formed loving relationships as seen in modern romance.
• In many primitive societies, extramarital and premarital relations were common, but they lacked the characteristics of romantic love.
• Different cultures have varying views and expressions of romantic love.
• Some cultures prioritize arranged marriages, where affection is considered important.
• Western cultures often emphasize the idealization of love and romantic relationships.
• In some cultures, romance may be interpreted as a normal friendship without sexual attraction.
• Cultural perspectives shape the understanding and expression of romantic love.

Courtship Behaviors

• Courtship behaviors are undertaken by individuals to express romantic feelings and emotions.
• These behaviors can include gift-giving, acts of service, quality time spent together, and physical affection.
• Courtship often involves rituals and gestures to demonstrate commitment and interest.
• It is a way for individuals to establish and strengthen their romantic connection.
• Courtship behaviors can vary across cultures and may be influenced by societal norms and expectations.

Evolutionary Perspective and Origin of Romantic Love

• Romantic love is believed to have evolved as a mechanism for long-term mating and pair bonding.
• It is associated with specific cognitive, emotional, and biological processes.
• The desire for romantic love is influenced by evolutionary factors and genetic predispositions.
• Romantic love has adaptive functions in terms of mate selection and reproductive success.
• Evolutionary psychologists study the role of romantic love in human behavior and relationships.
• The origin of romantic love is influenced by the contradiction between sexual desire and societal expectations.

Popularization of the Term Romance and Changing Perspectives on Marriage

• The concept of romantic love became popular in Western culture through the idea of courtly love.
• Knights in the Middle Ages engaged in non-physical and non-marital relationships with noble women, following a complex framework of tradition and etiquette.
• Troubadours often depicted courtly love and domnei in their artistic endeavors, such as lyrical narratives and poetic prose.
• Courtly love allowed for expressions of emotional closeness that may have been lacking in formal arranged marriages.
• The notion of courtly love influenced the popularization of the term 'romance' in Western culture.
• In earlier societies, marriages were primarily arranged to secure alliances and produce offspring.
• Love began to play a more significant role in marriage during the Middle Ages.
• Marriage rituals in the past may be viewed as oppressive by modern standards, prioritizing financial, professional, and political interests over love and romance.
• The discourse of intimacy emerged in the 20th century, emphasizing emotional closeness over passion in relationships.
• Homosexual relationships, which were initially unable to be legally recognized, influenced more open and negotiated relationships in the heterosexual population.

Romance (love) Data Sources