Researchers have dissected love, uncovering its true role in relationships.

A recent study has demonstrated that romantic love plays a crucial role in long-term relationships worldwide. The research highlights that most individuals across various cultures are reluctant to marry without experiencing love for their partner. However, the significance of love in partner selection varies based on factors such as gender, socio-economic status, and the level of development in a country. These findings support the theory that love acts as a commitment mechanism, strengthening bonds between partners and promoting relationship stability, as noted by PsyPost.

The study, published in the journal Human Nature, aimed to understand the purpose of romantic love and why it exists. Several evolutionary theories suggest that love evolved from the attachment formed between infants and their caregivers, which helped ensure our survival.

Another perspective posits that love is a biological system designed to keep couples together for child-rearing. The related idea is that romantic love serves as a "commitment device," encouraging fidelity and long-term devotion, which in turn increases the likelihood of successful offspring upbringing.

If love indeed fosters commitment, it should be valued by everyone when considering long-term relationships, as a devoted partner can provide emotional support, share resources, and assist in raising children. To explore this idea, researchers collected responses from 86,310 individuals across 90 countries. Participants were asked about the importance of romantic love in long-term relationships, using a scale from 0 (definitely would not marry without love) to 100 (definitely would marry without love).

During the study, data on participants' gender, socio-economic status, and number of children were also gathered. Additionally, the Human Development Index (HDI) was used to assess the level of modernization in each country. The results confirmed that romantic love is highly valued worldwide, with the majority of respondents unwilling to marry without it. The research revealed notable differences in how various demographic groups prioritize love.

Individuals with lower socio-economic status placed greater importance on romantic love, likely because a devoted partner can provide financial and emotional stability in the face of limited external resources. Women also rated romantic love as more important than men, aligning with evolutionary theories that suggest women, who bear higher biological costs of reproduction, are more selective in choosing partners.

Furthermore, people with more children emphasized that love is a significant factor in marriage, probably viewing it as a stabilizing force that supports child-rearing. The study indicated that residents of more developed countries place greater value on romantic love compared to those in less developed regions, which may be linked to cultural differences in the perception of relationships.