"Human motivation systems are particularly sensitive to anticipation. In fact, dopamine (our 'motivation neurotransmitter') is often released more strongly during the anticipation of a reward than during the reward itself."
"In romantic contexts, the idea of who someone might become can generate more excitement than who they consistently are. The motivation to imagine best-case scenarios to fill in knowledge gaps is bolstered by another vulnerability of the brain."
People often stay in relationships because they are attracted to the potential of their partner rather than their actual behavior. This tendency is driven by psychological mechanisms related to attachment and reward. The brain tends to overvalue unrealized potential, with anticipation of a reward often feeling more stimulating than the reward itself. Romantic fantasizing can create an addictive cycle, where imagined futures generate more excitement than present realities, leading to a stronger attachment based on potential rather than consistent behavior.
Read at Psychology Today
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