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Men sing about dating and sex more often than women

Research analyzing popular song lyrics across five decades reveals men singing about romantic love and sex more frequently, while female artists focus on love. The study highlights gender-based differences in sexuality and stereotyping, with women's bodies being objectified more often than men's.

SourceSpringer·JournalSexuality & Culture·DateMay 17, 2017

Friendships start better with a smile

A study led by Belinda Campos found that people are highly attuned to others' positive emotions and can form new social bonds based on these displays. Awareness of others' positive emotions can provide important relationship information, helping individuals feel secure in their relationships and resolve conflicts.

SourceSpringer·JournalMotivation and Emotion·DateMay 26, 2015

Giving to charity: Feeling love means doing more for distant strangers

A new study in the Journal of Marketing Research reveals that love alone can inspire people to give to those with whom they have no connection. The study found that only emotional love, not closely related emotions like compassion, increased the desire to donate to distant charities. This finding has serious implications for marketers ...

SourceAmerican Marketing Association·JournalJournal of Marketing Research·DateApr 29, 2015

Just slip out the back, Jack

A Saint Louis University research review article suggests people are hardwired to fall out of love and move onto new romantic relationships. Brain imaging studies show an increase in neuronal activity in pleasure areas that become active with cocaine use, implying a similar attachment process.

SourceSaint Louis University·JournalReview of General Psychology·DateMar 25, 2015

Love makes sex better for most women

According to a Penn State Abington sociologist, most women believe love is necessary for maximum sexual satisfaction in both relationships and marriage. The study found that love makes sex physically more pleasurable and increases feelings of trust and agency.

Eye movements reveal difference between love and lust

A new study by University of Chicago researchers found that eye patterns concentrate on a stranger's face if the viewer sees them as a potential partner in romantic love, but gaze at the body when feeling sexual desire. This automatic judgment occurs in half a second, producing distinct eye movement patterns.

SourceUniversity of Chicago·JournalPsychological Science·DateJul 17, 2014

Love makes you strong

Researchers discovered that young adults in romantic relationships exhibit reduced neuroticism over time. The study found that partners support each other and positive experiences change thought structures, leading to increased stability. This effect is observed in both men and women, with long-term relationships having a stronger impact.

SourceFriedrich-Schiller-Universitaet Jena·JournalJournal of Personality·DateMay 9, 2014

Love is a many-faceted thing

Researchers found that regular churchgoers, married people, and those with harmonious social ties are most satisfied with their love lives. The study also revealed that education does not impact love life satisfaction but religious involvement does, with believers having positive attitudes towards their relationships.

SourceSpringer·JournalApplied Research in Quality of Life·DateApr 9, 2014

Valentine's Day advice: Don't let rocky past relations with parents spoil your romance

A study by University of Alberta researcher Matt Johnson found a small but important link between parent-adolescent relationship quality and intimate relationships 15 years later. Good parent-teen relationships can lead to higher quality romantic relationships, while negative experiences may repeat themselves in current partnerships.

SourceUniversity of Alberta·JournalJournal of Marriage and Family·DateFeb 5, 2014

Finnish research team reveals how emotions are mapped in the body

Researchers at Aalto University have discovered that emotional states trigger distinct bodily sensations, with consistent patterns across West European and East Asian cultures. The study found that awareness of these bodily changes can lead to conscious emotional sensations like happiness, highlighting the biological basis of emotions.

SourceAalto University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 31, 2013

New study finds clients want real love from sex workers

A recent study published in Men and Masculinities journal found that men who regularly visit sex workers often develop feelings of romance and love. Clients share private feelings and desires with providers, blurring the lines between physical and emotional intimacy.

SourceSAGE·JournalMen and Masculinities·DateAug 8, 2012

Understanding flirtation in negotiation, 'shooter bias,' love during marriage, and more

New studies examine the role of flirtation in negotiations, finding it signals self-interest and competitiveness; individuals concerned with future consequences exercise more and adopt healthier habits; shooter biases may be driven by interpersonal threats rather than culture or race; husbands and wives express love differently in marr...

SourceSociety for Personality and Social Psychology·JournalPersonality and Social Psychology Bulletin·DateJul 19, 2012

Love it or leave it?

A recent study from Concordia University found that employees who feel obligated to stay with their employer are more likely to experience emotional exhaustion. This type of commitment can lead to feelings of indebtedness and loss of autonomy, ultimately contributing to turnover.

SourceConcordia University·JournalHuman Relations·DateApr 3, 2012

Cut your Valentine some slack

A Northwestern University study shows that perceiving a partner's efforts to improve the relationship enhances feelings of security and happiness. The research suggests that acknowledging a partner's capabilities for change is crucial to building a happy relationship.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalPersonality and Social Psychology Bulletin·DateFeb 13, 2012

The many unexpected sides of romantic love

A study found that people primed with feelings of love for their partner behaved more aggressively towards attractive rivals. Meanwhile, researchers discovered that men who confess love first tend to feel happier than women in the long run.

SourceSAGE·DateJan 28, 2012

Friendship, timing key differences between US, Eastern European love

Residents of US, Lithuania, and Russia view romantic love through different lenses. While 'being together' is a common requirement, expressions of 'comfort/love' and 'friendship' are more prevalent in the US than Eastern Europe. Americans take longer to fall in love, with over 90% reporting it within a month compared to 58% in the US.

SourceSAGE·JournalCross-Cultural Research·DateAug 17, 2011

Women still in grip of idealized love and sex, purveyed by romantic fiction

A recent study suggests that romantic fiction continues to shape women's perceptions of idealized love and sex, potentially influencing negative attitudes towards condom use and non-consensual sex. The author argues that the genre can perpetuate unrealistic expectations and escapism, running counter to real-life health messages.

SourceBMJ Group·JournalJournal of Family Planning and Reproductive Health Care·DateJul 6, 2011

Falling in love 'more scientific than you think,' according to Syracuse University professor

A new meta-analysis study by Syracuse University Professor Stephanie Ortigue found that falling in love affects intellectual areas of the brain and releases euphoria-inducing chemicals. The study revealed that love can be sparked by different parts of the brain, including those involved in mental representation, metaphors, and body image.

SourceSyracuse University·JournalThe Journal of Sexual Medicine·DateOct 22, 2010

Gender affects perceptions of infidelity

A new study explores how men and women perceive online and offline sexual and emotional infidelity, finding that men felt sexual infidelity was more upsetting and women felt emotional infidelity was more upsetting. The results also reveal differences in beliefs about sex and love between men and women.

SourceWiley·JournalJournal of Marital and Family Therapy·DateOct 29, 2008

Brain's 'hate circuit' identified

Researchers at UCL found a 'hate circuit' in the brain that is distinct from those related to love, fear, and aggression. The study reveals that the 'hate circuit' involves structures in the cortex and sub-cortex that are also activated by romantic love, but with a different pattern of activity.

SourceUniversity College London·JournalPLOS ONE·DateOct 28, 2008

Our memory wears rose-colored glasses

The study highlights that self-defining memories are emotionally complex and significant to individuals. Researcher Wendy-Jo Wood found that people tend to downplay negative events while emphasizing positive ones, which contributes to a more optimistic view of their experiences.

SourceBlackwell Publishing Ltd.·JournalJournal of Personality·DateMay 16, 2006

Survey links altruism and romantic love

A survey by the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago found a positive correlation between altruistic love and happiness in marriages. The study, which analyzed data from over 1,300 people, also revealed that married individuals tend to score higher on altruistic love questions than unmarried individuals.

Study shows restricted activities predict decline; UNC physician urges acceptance of the inevitable

A study by Yale University found that older adults' disability scores worsen by 11.2% for every month of curtailed activity. The association between restricted activity and functional decline differs significantly in risk groups, with adjusted disability scores increasing by 18.7% and 7.5% for low- and intermediate-risk groups, respect...

SourceUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill·JournalArchives of Internal Medicine·DateJun 10, 2003