Love has a magical way of transforming our lives, healing emotional wounds and filling our hearts with joy. In new relationships, many couples dive into affectionate pet names like 'my baby,' 'my cracotte,' 'my angel,' or declarations such as 'I miss you already' and 'How did I live without you?' This honeymoon-phase intensity feels euphoric. Yet others stay more reserved, resisting what some call lovesick 'silliness.' Research suggests this measured approach often leads to stronger, longer-lasting partnerships.
Experts from U.S. universities have shown that excessive affection right from the start may foreshadow divorce years down the line. This finding comes from a rigorous study published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology.
The researchers tracked 168 couples over 13 years, pinpointing early behaviors that signal enduring marriages or future breakups. Couples displaying 'too much' affection initially proved far more likely to divorce.
Psychologist Madeleine Mason Roantree, speaking to The Independent, explains the danger of merger-like desire: "Some people get swept up in the infatuation phase – hence 'love is blind.' But infatuation and passion aren't sustainable long-term. Once they fade, what's left? If there's no deeper connection beyond the passion, the relationship risks collapse."
The study's authors attribute many divorces to disillusionment after the passion cools, especially when early affection was overly intense. Of course, some couples masterfully channel that spark into lifelong love – and they deserve our admiration.
