Modernization- collectivism- and gender equality predict love experiences in 45 countries

Abstract

Recent cross-cultural and neuro-hormonal investigations have suggested that love is a near universal phenomenon that has a biological background. Therefore the remaining important question is not whether love exists worldwide but which cultural social or environmental factors influence experiences and expressions of love. In the present study we explored whether countries' modernization indexes are related to love experiences measured by three subscales (passion intimacy commitment) of the Triangular Love Scale. Analyzing data from 9474 individuals from 45 countries we tested for relationships with country-level predictors namely modernization proxies (i.e. Human Development Index World Modernization Index Gender Inequality Index) collectivism and average annual temperatures. We found that mean levels of love (especially intimacy) were higher in countries with higher modernization proxies collectivism and average annual temperatures. In conclusion our results grant some support to the hypothesis that modernization processes might influence love experiences.