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Beyond significance: Toward a more dynamic, relational, and culturally inclusive framework on love

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 May 2026

Mustafa Anil Topal Open the ORCID record for Mustafa Anil Topal [Opens in a new window] ,
Haeyoung Gideon Park  and
Emily A. Impett Open the ORCID record for Emily A. Impett [Opens in a new window]
Mustafa Anil Topal
Affiliation:
University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada anil.topal@mail.utoronto.ca gideon.park@mail.utoronto.ca emily.impett@utoronto.ca www.emilyimpett.com
Haeyoung Gideon Park
Affiliation:
University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada anil.topal@mail.utoronto.ca gideon.park@mail.utoronto.ca emily.impett@utoronto.ca www.emilyimpett.com
Emily A. Impett*
Affiliation:
University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada anil.topal@mail.utoronto.ca gideon.park@mail.utoronto.ca emily.impett@utoronto.ca www.emilyimpett.com
*
*Corresponding author.
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Abstract

Kruglanski et al.’s “love as a quest” model casts romantic love as a path to personal significance. We argue this framing misrepresents love’s core nature, overlooking relational, emotional, and cultural dimensions. Love is not merely a reflection of individual validation but is dynamic and co-constructed. We advocate for a more relationally grounded and culturally inclusive framework on love.

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Type
Open Peer Commentary
Information
Behavioral and Brain Sciences , Volume 49 , 2026 , e18
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Copyright
© The Author(s), 2026. Published by Cambridge University Press

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