Truer of relationship initiation than maintenance?

Sandra Murray; Gabriela Pascuzzi

doi:10.1017/S0140525X25102112

Truer of relationship initiation than maintenance?

Sandra Murray
, Gabriela Pascuzzi

Psychology

SUNY Buffalo

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Does romantic love always depend on trade-offs between significance quests, partner appreciation, and partner merit? The compensatory logic of the love formula may better apply to romantic relationship initiation than maintenance. Personal quests for significance are more tied to the success/failure of established than new relationships. This makes it harder to keep partner appreciation and merit mentally separate, limiting compensation.

Original language	English
Article number	e12
Journal	Behavioral and Brain Sciences
Volume	49
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1017/S0140525X25102112
State	Published - May 28 2026

Access to Document

10.1017/S0140525X25102112

Cite this

@article{a09df0af8c814751bf3926f20a6fef83,

title = "Truer of relationship initiation than maintenance?",

abstract = "Does romantic love always depend on trade-offs between significance quests, partner appreciation, and partner merit? The compensatory logic of the love formula may better apply to romantic relationship initiation than maintenance. Personal quests for significance are more tied to the success/failure of established than new relationships. This makes it harder to keep partner appreciation and merit mentally separate, limiting compensation.",

author = "Sandra Murray and Gabriela Pascuzzi",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} The Author(s), 2026. Published by Cambridge University Press.",

year = "2026",

month = may,

day = "28",

doi = "10.1017/S0140525X25102112",

language = "English",

volume = "49",

journal = "Behavioral and Brain Sciences",