It’s summer in the UK, which means that millions of viewers are piling onto their sofas every night to watch how the gaggle of “hot young tings” from the four corners of the UK (and Ireland) are getting on – or who they’re getting with…
It is easy to dismiss Love Island as just another frivolous reality TV show featuring horny, conventionally attractive young adults looking for fame and some fun along the way. But beneath the fake tans, and cringey banter, Love Island can actually help us understand the forces that push people together and help maintain commitment in long-term (off-camera) relationships.
In fact, Love Island is a perfect illustration of the investment model of relationships. This model helps explain whether people are going to “stick or twist” in their relationship (i.e. stay committed or move on to greener pastures).
According to investment model of relationships, our commitment and desire to persist in our relationships is influenced by three distinct pieces of information:
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Our quality of alternatives (aka whether anyone’s head is turning)
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