How couples change : romantic and long-term love
In the words of writer william somerset maugham ( 1874-1965 ) ," we are not the same person this year as last ; nor are those we love . it is a happy chance if we , changing , continue to love a changed person".
Romantic love was less common in the united states in the 1800s than it is today for several reasons : life expectancy was shorter , living in isolated towns and homes made it difficult to meet a variety of lovers , and most people didn't live long enough to fall in love more than once . today , with increased life spans , greater geographic mobility , and high divorce rates , we may fall in love with many people during our lifetime .
Romantic love can be both exhilarating and disappointing . in contrast , long-term love provides security and constancy . let's begin with some of the Ics of romantic love .