Overview
- Respondents reported an average of 2.05 experiences of passionate love over their lifetime, according to research published in Interpersona.
- Reported frequency distribution was 14% never, 28% once, 30% twice, 17% three times, and 11% four or more times.
- Differences across sexual orientations were minimal, older adults reported slightly more experiences, and men reported marginally more than women, driven by heterosexual men.
- Lead author Dr. Amanda Gesselman says the data indicate passionate love is common across people but typically occurs only a few times for any individual.
- The findings come from retrospective self-reports by U.S. single adults and reflect a cross-sectional snapshot rather than a nationally representative, longitudinal measure.