Limerence vs. Love: What’s the Difference?
Limerence is psychologist Dorothy Tennov’s term for an involuntary state of intense romantic longing — obsessive, intrusive thoughts about one …
Relationships
Does Couples Therapy Work? What Research Finds
Yes — research finds that couples therapy produces real, moderate benefits for relationship distress on average, though effects vary and …
When to Leave a Relationship: What Research Says About the Decision
No article, quiz, or study can tell you whether to leave your relationship — and you should be suspicious of …
Emotional Intimacy: How Closeness Develops
Emotional intimacy is the felt sense of closeness between partners — the feeling of being genuinely known by another person, …
Forgiveness in Relationships: What Psychology Finds
Forgiveness in a relationship is best understood as a motivational change: when people forgive, they become less motivated to avoid …
What People Want in a Partner: The Psychology of Mate Preferences
What do people look for in a romantic partner? Everyone has an answer, and the answers vary wildly — until …
Long-Distance Relationships: What Research Actually Finds
Can a relationship survive distance? Common wisdom says no — “out of sight, out of mind.” But psychologists who study …
The Psychology of Online Dating: What Science Says About Finding Love on Screens
Online dating has gone from stigmatized to standard: meeting through an app is now one of the most common ways …
Why Do People Cheat? The Psychology of Infidelity
Few relationship events are as painful — or as widely misunderstood — as infidelity. Popular culture offers simple stories: cheaters …
The Psychology of Jealousy: Why It Happens and When It Becomes a Problem
Jealousy is one of the most universal — and most misunderstood — emotions in relationships. Almost everyone has felt it: …