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What’s love got to do with it? The formula for love needs psychological and motivational neurobiological components

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 May 2026

Tobias Esch Open the ORCID record for Tobias Esch [Opens in a new window]
Tobias Esch*
Affiliation:
Institute for Integrative Health Care and Health Promotion (IGVF), Faculty of Health/School of Medicine, Witten/Herdecke University, Witten, Germany tobias.esch@uni-wh.de https://www.uni-wh.de/en/contact-person/tobias-esch
*
*Corresponding author.
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Abstract

Kruglanski et al.’s love model rightly highlights motivation and meaning as core to love, aligning with current research. However, this commentary expands the view, emphasizing love’s biological basis in brain systems and evolving different types of motivation. Love fulfills both individual and species-level needs, promoting health, connection, and generativity. True love transcends ego, growing into unconditional, spiritually rich connectedness over time.

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Type
Open Peer Commentary
Information
Behavioral and Brain Sciences , Volume 49 , 2026 , e7
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Copyright
© The Author(s), 2026. Published by Cambridge University Press

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