If you’ve ever wondered what the secret to long-lasting love could be, then a new study might just have found it – and it has nothing to do with romance…
New research published in the Journal of Social and Personal Relationships has revealed what makes people feel truly loved, and it looks like it’s the small things that count.
After quizzing almost 500 adults about how loved they thought someone would feel in 60 different scenarios, the researchers concluded that little, non-romantic gestures are what matter most in the love stakes – particularly anything that displayed compassion.
Meanwhile, controlling behaviours – including wanting to know where someone is at all times – were seen as the least loving. No big shock there.
‘Whether we feel loved or not plays an important role in how we feel from day to day,’ said researcher Saeideh Heshmati in a release on the Pensylvannia State University website.
‘We were curious about whether the majority of Americans could agree about what makes people feel loved on a daily basis, or if it was a more personal thing.
‘Our results show that people do agree, and the top scenarios that came back weren’t necessarily romantic.
‘So it is possible for people to feel loved in simple, everyday scenarios. It doesn’t have to be over-the-top gestures.’
So, there you have it, the perfect excuse not to overspend on extravagant gifts or pricey dinners to keep your partner happy – it really is the little things that count…
