A Scale to Measure Love Addiction

Abstract

In a recent review of the literature on relationships, Burgess and Husron ( 1 ) point out rhat no systematic artempt has been made to classify according to closeness. Some preliminary classifications have been developed which, e.g., cite movement in towards such characteristics as cooperative-friendly, equality, intensity and emotional-informal ( 5 ) . Such data should be interpreted cautiously ( 1 ) because, for example, relationships not ordinarily seen as intimate sometimes are, and that are typically viewed as intimate sometimes are not. Conflict and hostility may characterize many close as much as cooperation and friendship; Given the degree of interdependence involved, almost all, or at least many, interrelationships have more conflict than perceptual models are likely to attribute to them ( 1 ) . One source of conflict is a style of loving variously called love ( 4 ) , mania ( 3 ) , and possessive ( 2 ) . The term love will be used here. Among the defining characteristics of this style are: ( a ) wanting the parrner to fill a felt void in one's life, ( b ) wanting the reassurance of constancy of the partner, ( c ) feeling rhar the partner is necessary to make life bearable, and ( d ) feeling that the sole source of one's gratification, and pleasure is one's partner. It is presumed that such expectations by one or both partners could be burdensome and conflictual. Few empirical studies, however, have focused on the classification or meanings of addiction. This article describes results of a research project that tests a scale developed to measure addiction as a part of one's style. Fifty-eight upper-level undergraduate students enrolled in sociology classes at two universities in the Southwest participated; 38 were female. The average age was 28 yr. Twenty-five were single (never married), 19 married, 2 engaged, 8 divorced, 1 separated, and 3 in living-together arrangements. Forty-three respndenrs answered the survey with regard to a current relationship, 14 with regard to a previous relationship. The average duration of relationship was 48 mo. The Scale, as a two-page questionnaire developed by the authors, has 20 randomly distributed close-ended questions. (Example: Soon after I met my partner, I knew this person was my 'other half' and made my life complete.) Nine irems were reverse-ordered to prevent a response set. The irems were scored on a Lihrt-cype scale where 1 represented Strongly Agree, 2 Agree, 3 Disagree, 4 Strongly Disagree, and 5 Not Applicable. Approximately 15 min. were required for completion of the scale. If not in a current relationship, the respondents were asked to respond to the scale with regard to a previous relationship. The scale was administered to each of the respondents twice during July and August, 1980 with a 2-wk. period intervening. The temporal stability of the Love Scale was tested. The mean score for Time 1 was 2.23 (SD 1.54). The mean score for Time 2 was 2.11 (SD 1.45). A correlation of .99 was generated for the scores at Times 1 and 2, indicating high reliability ( f i = .0001). Funher development of the scale, such as a validity test with a population behaviorally defined as love addicts, is appropriate.