

Relationships allow us to grow and expand our sense of self. He developed the self-expansion model of relationships, which posits that one main motivation for forming bonds with others is our own personal growth. Aron has spent decades studying how people develop and maintain close relationships, particularly romantic relationships. Arthur Aron, a professor of psychology at Stony Brook University in New York. Welcome to Speaking of Psychology, the flagship podcast of the American Psychological Association, that examines the links between psychological science and everyday life. What is it that sets those relationships apart? What makes love like that last? Are some couples just lucky, or are there things that any couple can do to sustain love or rekindle it in a long-term relationship? What does science say about the secrets of everlasting love? But, some couples remain deeply and passionately in love, even after decades of marriage. Few people celebrate their 10th or 20th Valentine's Day together with the same enthusiasm that they did their first. For most of us, that passionate intensity fades over time.

Kim Mills: If you have ever fallen in love, you probably remember the intensity of the longing and desire that you felt for the object of your affection, the breathless anticipation of seeing each other, wanting the moments together to last forever.
