PDF Version. Do mobile dating algorithms confirm our faith in soulmates, or does infinite choice dissolve our commitment to mutual growth? Traditional cultures used to create one system of fate and personal effort. But on modern dating sites, cosmic fates … Continue reading
Category Archives: romantic love
Destiny vs. Growth: Cross-Cultural Perspectives on Relational Fate
PDF Version. Do beliefs in romantic fate hinder relationship investment, or can fate and effort coexist? While Western psychological models often treat destiny and growth as opposing mindsets, non-Western traditions integrate them into a unified cultural framework. In this article, … Continue reading
Our Love Destiny in Life: The Psychology and Phenomenology of Relational Fate
PDF Version. Is love a conscious choice we make, or an unavoidable fate we simply discover? While modern psychology often highlights individual autonomy in love, human cultures have long viewed romantic love as a mysterious, preordained force. In this article, … Continue reading
How World Cultures View Destiny in Love: Fate, Karma, and Soulmates
PDF Version. Is love really our destiny in life? What do different cultural traditions tell us about predestined connection? Love is often viewed as a mysterious force—one that many societies attribute to fate. The English word ‘destiny’ derives from Latin, … Continue reading
Whose Love Stories Matter? Gender, Prestige, and the Diversity of Popular Romance
A Review of Francesca Pierini’s Romancing Literature Book Reviewed: Pierini, F. (2026). Romancing Literature: When Literary Fiction Meets Genre. Routledge. 124 pp. ISBN: 978-1041289821. PDF Version. If you study love, you have likely run into an invisible wall separating high … Continue reading
The Paradox of Choice While Scrolling and Swiping Through Dating Apps
PDF Version. In an age of endless social media scrolling, does the ‘next best thing’ replace the ‘great thing’ as an adversary? Researchers explore how the cognitive overload of choices in modern dating apps can be challenging for men and … Continue reading
Why Does Experiencing Adversity Make You Fall in Love with Someone?
PDF Version. Novels, movies, and real-life experiences remind us of numerous instances of how men and women fall in love with each other in the time of adversity and the challenges they encounter. Experiencing adversity can make people fall in … Continue reading
A Tribute to Ellen Berscheid, a Prominent Researcher in the Social Psychology of Love and Relationship
PDF Version. With profound sadness, the Institute of Love Studies shares news that Ellen Berscheid, an American social psychologist and one of the pioneering figures in the studies of love and interpersonal relationships, passed away on May 22, 2025. Ellen … Continue reading
Revisiting the Romeo and Juliet Effect on Love Feelings
Authors: Victor Karandashev and Ernest Light PDF Version Contemporary young men and women appear to feel autonomy in their selection of romantic partners. However, individuals’ social networks and family members seem to substantially influence their romantic preferences. Researchers have explored … Continue reading
The Romeo and Juliet Effect on Love Feelings
Authors: Victor Karandashev and Ernest Light PDF Version Modern young men and women seem to be free in their choice of who they love. Nevertheless, other people in their life, their social networks, and family members appear to significantly affect … Continue reading