Interpersonal Variability of the Experience of Falling in Love

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Volume 15 Num. 1

Volume 15 Num. 1 - March 2015

Interpersonal Variability of the Experience of Falling in Love

Volume 15 Num. 1 - March 2015 - Pages 87-100

Authors:

José Manuel Sanz Cruces , María Fernández Hawrylak , Ana Benito Delegido ,

mfernandez@ubu.es

Abstract:

This paper presents a study describing different psychological constructs that modulate the intensity and individual variability of amorous passion. The intensity and duration of romantic love -measured using Hatfield’s Passionate Love Scale- are associated with different psychological variables: attachment styles, personality traits, impulsivity, anxiety and attitudes toward the myths of romantic love. 503 College students participated in the study. The research fits into a descriptive, correlational and cross-sectional methodology. The results show that college teens prone to anxious attachment adhere more to the romantic prototype as they obtain significant higher scores on intensity of falling in love and on accepting attitudes of the myths of romantic love. An opposite pattern was observed in people prone to avoidant attachment. The extraversion personality trait relates differently to amorousness in men and women. We also discuss the possible interpretations of the differences between men and women on different variables.

Key words:

love, personality, interpersonal relations, gender identity, courtship

Full Article

English (PDF)

International Journal of Psychology and Psychological Therapy

Volume 15 Num. 1 - March 2015