Independent studies like that of Adam Bode and his research team at Michigan State University have found that people divide romantics into four clear categories. They then collected responses from over 1,500 people in 33 countries. Our 2022 Romantic Love Survey uncovers some of these fascinating truths. It captures the many ways people around the world have learned to say “I love you.”
The research categorized lovers into four groups: mild, moderate, intense, and libidinous. Each one represents a unique dynamic, way of thinking, and approach to romance and intimacy.
Of all respondents, Libidinous Lovers only account for 9% of respondents but are distinctive for their extraordinary sexual activity. They have a median of ten copulations per week, with the highest females reporting twenty plus copulation sessions. Surprisingly, 60% of libidinous lovers come from the fairer sex. True mild lovers represent just 20% of the total surveyed population. They have the least romantic love on all measures and average sexual activity only twice a week.
Moderate lovers At 40 percent, moderate lovers are the biggest group, making love an average of 2.5 times a week. At the opposite end of the spectrum, passionate lovers represent 29% of respondents. These “head over heels” lovers have the highest intense love scale scores, ruminate obsessively about their partners, display almost pathological commitment, and have sex more often.
“These lovers scored the highest intensity, highest obsessive thinking, highest commitment, and relatively high frequency of sex,” said Adam Bode.
Bode underscored the need to understand that people love in many different forms.
“The bottom line is that we don’t all love the same,” he stated.
The research finds that mild lovers ruminate less and exhibit reduced passion in their feelings. Yet, they are still able to exert control over their level of commitment and salaciousness of sexual encounters. In stark opposition are libidinous lovers, who intently pursue soulful bonds. They seek out physical closeness with much greater enthusiasm.
Bode emphasized that these findings have powerful consequences. Their impact extends past one-on-one relationships too, broadening our collective conception of whatever romantic love may entail.
“These findings have implications for the evolution of romantic love,” he explained. “Humans may still be evolving in terms of how they express romantic love.”
The study highlights a fascinating aspect of human behavior. Variation is not just common but essential for evolution.
“Variation is a necessary component for evolution,” Bode reiterated.
These studies help us better understand the ways people of different cultures think about romantic relationships in fundamentally different ways. By categorizing romantics into these four groups, the study provides groundwork for exploring the nuances of human connection.
Leave a Reply