The Role of Romantic Love in Marriage Across Different Societies

The Meaning of Romantic Love in Different Societies

Romantic love plays a central role in American society, being considered the main reason for people to marry. However, this viewpoint is not universal across all cultures. In some societies, romantic love is viewed as a form of obsession or madness. These differing beliefs about love can have a significant impact on the institution of marriage.

Arranged marriages are still prevalent in many cultures, where the primary purpose of marriage is often seen as an economic arrangement rather than a matter of personal choice. For example, in agrarian societies, marriage serves practical purposes such as bearing children, sharing workload, and ensuring labor for farming activities. In other societies, marriage is used to solidify alliances and strengthen relationships between families.

In European royal or aristocratic lineages, marriages were often strategic arrangements aimed at creating trust, loyalty, and mutual obligations between privileged and powerful families. Love may not have been the main consideration in these unions, as the overarching goal was to maintain and expand influence through marital ties.