Love cheats: the unfaithful spouse

Why do so many romances involve betrayal? In this episode, I explain why love cheats as a narrative device to measure the depth and intensity of the romantic connection. This trope dates back to the very first romance, The song of Tristan and Iseult, in which love and duty are set on a tragic collision course. The more a character sacrifices, the more “real” their love appears to the audience. This is why this genre inadvertently glorifies the unfaithful spouse.

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Presented by Orion Taraban, Psy.D. PsycHacks provides viewers with a brief, thought-provoking video several days a week on a variety of psychological topics, inspired by his clinical practice. The intention is for the core idea contained within each video to inspire viewers to see something about themselves or their world in a slightly different light. The ultimate mission of the channel is to reduce the amount of unnecessary suffering in the world.

#psychology #romance #love