Love is an emotion that is common to all, but do we all feel it the same? New research indicates that no, we do not. A new study has found that individuals tend to fall into four categories in terms of romantic love. One such group is so hot-headed that they allegedly have sex as many as 20 times a week!

Scientists at the Australian National University (ANU), University of Canberra, and University of South Australia assessed data from the Romantic Love Survey 2022. The biggest survey of its type, it explored how 1,556 individuals felt about love. Results were released in the journal Personality and Individual Differences.

Romantic love, according to ANU PhD student in biological anthropology Adam Bode, lead author of the paper, is "a motivational state typically associated with a desire for long-term mating with a particular individual." He said that romantic love has evolved over human history and plays vital roles like mate choice, courtship, and bonding.

Through the observation of 809 young adults between the ages of 18 and 25 who self-identified as being in love, the scientists found four categorizations of romantic lovers.

The four types of romantic lovers

1. Mild romantic (20.02% of participants)

This group had the lowest intensity, commitment, and sex. They were least likely to be preoccupied with their partner, and just 25% thought that their partner was "definitely" in love with them. Approximately 82% of individuals in this group indicated that they were sexually active, and it was the least sexually active group.

2. Moderate romantic (40.91% of participants)

The biggest category, moderate romantics, were "entirely unremarkable" according to the study. They had moderate levels of passion and commitment and a balanced style of relationships. Surprisingly, men were more likely to be in this category than other categories.

3. Intense romantic (29.42% of participants)

This subgroup was dominated by individuals who were "crazy in love." They scored the highest on emotional intensity, obsessive thinking, and commitment. They also reported that they had a high rate of sex. Interestingly, women comprised approximately 60% of this group.

4. Libidinous romantic (9.64% of participants)

The most extreme but smallest subgroup, libidinous romantics, were extremely devoted, intensely fixated on their partners, and possessed exceptionally high rates of sexual behavior. They had sex an average of 10 times a week, with some reporting up to 20 times per week. More men than women were in the category. Surprisingly, these individuals were also more apt to travel, be free with money, and even smoke cigarettes.

This research is the first scientific proof that individuals feel love in very different ways. Although it should be obvious that not everyone loves alike, science had not previously established it.

Researchers also pointed out that romantic love usually lasts for a maximum of two years before evolving into "companionate love," a stage characterized by strong emotional bonding but not necessarily intense passion. In other instances, though, romantic intensity may persist for many years.

How was romantic love measured?

To classify these various kinds of lovers, researchers applied the Passionate Love Scale (PLS), a measure devised in 1986 to assess cognitive, affective, and behavioral components of love. It assisted them in identifying the amount of passion, obsessive thinking, and commitment involved in relationships.

Although this study is well-based, scholars say that subsequent research must venture into gender and culture-based differences in love. As much as this survey predominantly comprises youthful, English-speaking Western adults, more research must be done on how romantic love manifests itself in various cultures.

"Romantic love is under-researched given its importance in family and romantic relationship formation, its influence on culture, and its proposed universality," said Bode. "We want to help the world understand it better."

This research shows that love is not a one-size-fits-all experience. Some people express love mildly, while others are deeply passionate. Some prefer emotional connection over physical intimacy, while others find physical closeness essential.

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