"So many shows focus on the creation of love - the spark. This is an important part of love. It includes attraction, friction, something new and energizing. The spark can then either turn to smoke or ignite (this is the part we are entertained by). Bridgeton does a great job in depicting the spark, but this season did not show the bright burn of a healthy relationship."
"Watching two people fall in love, even if it is fictional, can take hold of our physiology. This is the power of good story telling combined with the innate desire to connect that drives many of us. There is a never-ending supply of shows focusing on romance."
"as a clinician who specializes in helping others build and maintain healthy relationships, I do worry about the expectations that are being set and the in-real-life parts of love that get left out."
Television romance shows captivate audiences through compelling storytelling and the human desire for connection, with series like Bridgerton demonstrating the power of depicting romantic attraction and tension. However, these shows predominantly focus on the creation of love—the spark involving attraction and friction—while largely excluding the ongoing work required to maintain healthy relationships. The spark can either dissipate or ignite into lasting love, but most romance programming emphasizes the initial phase rather than the sustained partnership, commitment, and investment that characterize enduring relationships. This selective portrayal may create unrealistic expectations about love, as viewers experience the excitement of new connection without witnessing the deeper, quieter aspects of long-term commitment.
#television-romance #relationship-expectations #long-term-commitment #romantic-attraction #healthy-relationships
Read at Psychology Today
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