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Extending the quest for significance: A dynamic and intersubjective perspective on romantic love

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 May 2026

Rosa Angela Fabio Open the ORCID record for Rosa Angela Fabio [Opens in a new window] ,
Rossella Suriano  and
Giulia Picciotto Open the ORCID record for Giulia Picciotto [Opens in a new window]
Rosa Angela Fabio*
Affiliation:
Department of Biomedical, Dental Sciences and Morphological and Functional Imaging, University of Messina, Messina, Italy rafabio@unime.it
Rossella Suriano
Affiliation:
Department of Cognitive Science, University of Messina, Messina, Italy suriano.rossellaz@gmail.com
Giulia Picciotto
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, Messina, Italy giulia.picciotto@hotmail.com
*
*Corresponding author.
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Abstract

We concur with the authors’ hypothesis that romantic love serves the quest for significance. However, we propose that (a) this quest also involves an intersubjective process of meaning co-construction within the couple and (b) love should be conceptualized as a dynamic process through which partners mutually shape and transform each other’s sense of significance over time.

Information

Type
Open Peer Commentary
Information
Behavioral and Brain Sciences , Volume 49 , 2026 , e8
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Copyright
© The Author(s), 2026. Published by Cambridge University Press

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