Romantic Love and Behavioral Activation System Sensitivity to a Loved One

Adam Bode; Phillip S Kavanagh

doi:10.3390/bs13110921

Romantic Love and Behavioral Activation System Sensitivity to a Loved One

Behav Sci (Basel). 2023 Nov 10;13(11):921. doi: 10.3390/bs13110921.

Authors

Adam Bode¹, Phillip S Kavanagh^{2

3}

Affiliations

¹ School of Archaeology and Anthropology, ANU College of Arts and Social Sciences, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia.
² Discipline of Psychology, Faculty of Health, University of Canberra, Bruce, ACT 2617, Australia.
³ Justice and Society, University of South Australia, Magill, SA 5072, Australia.

Abstract

Research investigating the mechanisms that contribute to romantic love is in its infancy. The behavioral activation system is one biopsychological system that has been demonstrated to play a role in several motivational outcomes. This study was the first to investigate romantic love and the behavioral activation system. In study 1, the Behavioral Activation System-Sensitivity to a Loved One (BAS-SLO) Scale was validated in a sample of 1556 partnered young adults experiencing romantic love. In study 2, hierarchical linear regression was used to identify BAS-SLO Scale associations with the intensity of romantic love in a subsample of 812 partnered young adults experiencing romantic love for two years or less. The BAS-SLO Scale explained 8.89% of the variance in the intensity of romantic love. Subject to further validation and testing, the BAS-SLO Scale may be useful in future neuroimaging and psychological studies. The findings are considered in terms of the mechanisms and evolutionary history of romantic love.

Keywords: BAS-SLO Scale; CFA; Romantic Love Survey 2022; behavioral activation system; evolution; romantic love.

Grants and funding

This research received no external funding.