6.1.2007
Love at First Sight
http://www.netsaga.is/media/files/Ekki%20vera%20hr%C3%A6ddur%20vi%C3%B0%20mig.mp3
Love at First Sight
New study reveals love happens at 12 months
by Sarah Drew
Although in 2006 you may be able to meet a date at the double click of a mouse, true love blossoms with time.
University of Bath scientists working with Match.com, have found that true love grows over time ? for men in particular.
The six month study of couples who met on Match.com and sister site, uDate.co.uk reveals that on average couples who experienced 'true love' have been in their relationships longer than those who show other forms of love.
In the first ever UK study of love and satisfaction in online relationships, the University of Bath has found that true love which scientists classify as 'Consummate Love' is evident at around 12 months into the relationship. Consummate love is a perfect balance of three components which scientists believe make-up our understanding of love, passion, intimacy and commitment.
In 2005, over 250,000 found love on Match.com. Of the 147 Match.com couples who took part in the study, an overwhelming 61% show that their relationships have high levels of intimacy, passion and commitment. Of these people practically all have been in their relationship for 12 months or longer.
According to the study, it is men who are more likely to find true love than women. 67% of men but just 57% of women studied are experiencing consummate love.
Women are more likely to experience 'liking' compared to men (9% and 2% respectively).
'Companionate love' was the next most frequently experienced form of love after consummate love, with 16% of the study. Companionate love is a relationship with high levels of intimacy and commitment but lower levels of passion. On average, those who experience companionate love were 11 months into their relationship.
The early stages of a relationship or 'first sight' stage often reveals what scientists call 'nonlove' indicating low levels of intimacy, passion and commitment.
Author of the study, Dr Jeff Gavin says: 'Love is an important predictor of success, stability and relationship satisfaction. Love is a multi-faceted concept, but is viewed in our study as the combined feelings of intimacy, passion and commitment that one has for a partner. To date, there has been no systematic study of love in the context of relationships formed via online dating sites, but with the popularity of online dating, it is imperative that we understand the factors that influence satisfaction in relationships formed in this way.'
Of those studied, only a small percentage experienced other forms of love. These are 'Liking' (8%: intimacy, without passion or commitment), 'Romantic love' (2%: intimacy and passion, without commitment) and 'Fatuous love' (1%: commitment without passion or intimacy).
Charlotte Harper, UK Managing Director of Match.com, which facilitated the study, says: 'When we launched our six month love guarantee last year, we wanted to find out what constitutes 'love' and its importance in relationships. We're thrilled to find that so many of our former members have found true love. It supports our belief that the internet and email does in fact encourage 'old-fashioned' courtship. This promotes a kind of romantic courtship that is all too infrequent when meeting potential partners on the bar scene.'
She continues: 'Our research with the University is on-going. We are currently conducting similar studies in Japan and in Europe, so we hope to extend the research even further in the near future.'