Cited by 293Attachment and Relationship DynamicsEvolutionary Psychology and Human BehaviorNeuroendocrine regulation and behavior

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Romantic love and sexual desire in close relationships

Gonzaga, Gian C., Turner, Rebecca A., Keltner, Dacher, Campos, Belinda, Altemus, Margaret·2006·Emotion

DOI 10.1037/1528-3542.6.2.163

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Abstract

Drawing on recent claims in the study of relationships, attachment, and emotion, the authors hypothesized that romantic love serves a commitment-related function and sexual desire a reproduction-related function. Consistent with these claims, in Study 1, brief experiences of romantic love and sexual desire observed in a 3-min interaction between romantic partners were related to distinct feeling states, distinct nonverbal displays, and commitment- and reproductive-related relationship outcomes, respectively. In Study 2, the nonverbal display of romantic love was related to the release of oxytocin. Discussion focuses on the place of romantic love and sexual desire in the literature on emotion.

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“In another analysis of this sample, Gonzaga et al. (2006) found that performance of affiliative behavioral cues was associated with increased oxytocin.”
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What’s Love Got To Do With It? Examinations of Emotional Perceptions and Sexual Behaviors Among Gay and Bisexual Men in the United States
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“Although sexual desire may decline over time in romantic relationships, it is often felt among people who are in love with few exceptions (Aron & Henkemeyer, 1995; Gonzaga et al., 2006).”
Increased attention and memory for beloved-related information during infatuation: behavioral and electrophysiological data
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“That is, attachment is accompanied by lower arousal and greater experience with the beloved than infatuation (Gonzaga et al., 2006), so spouse-related information may be preferentially remembered not because it is arousing, but because people are highly experienced with it.”

Authors: Gonzaga, G. C., Turner, R. A., Keltner, D., Campos, B., & Altemus, M.
Affiliations: University of California, Los Angeles (US)
ORCID: Turner, Rebecca A.
Keltner, Dacher
Campos, Belinda
Altemus, Margaret
Venue: Emotion
Publisher: American Psychological Association (APA)
Published: 2006-05
Volume: 6
Issue: 2
Pages: 163-179
ISSN: 1528-3542 (ISSN-L)
1931-1516
DOI: 10.1037/1528-3542.6.2.163
OpenAlex: W2152410293
Cited by: 292
References: 180
Citations by year: 2026: 5 · 2025: 13 · 2024: 9 · 2023: 12 · 2022: 30 · 2021: 9 · 2020: 9 · 2019: 21 · 2018: 14 · 2017: 21 · 2016: 15 · 2015: 17 · 2014: 22 · 2013: 19 · 2012: 13
FWCI: 16.83
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Locations: Emotion (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders: National Institute of Mental Health (5T32MH15750-22)
US Public Health Service (5 MO1 RR-00079)
California School of Professional Psychology
Topics: Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Attachment and Relationship Dynamics
Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Evolutionary Psychology and Human Behavior
Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Endocrine and Autonomic Systems › Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
Keywords: romantic love, sexual desire, close relationships, romantic partners, relationship commitment, reproduction, oxytocin, attachment
MeSH terms: Adult, Affect, Attitude, Cues, Demography, Ethnicity, Facial Expression, Female, Humans, Interpersonal Relations, Libido, Love, Male, Nonverbal Communication, Object Attachment, Oxytocin, Surveys and Questionnaires, Sexual Behavior, Sexual Partners, Social Desirability, Biomarkers, Expressed Emotion

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Romantic love and sexual desire in close relationships

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