Editing Intimate relationship (section)

=== Culture ===
Cultural context has influence in many domains within intimate relationships including norms in communication, expression of affection, commitment and marriage practices, and [[gender role]]s.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Rokach |first=Ami |date=2023 |title=Love Culturally: How Does Culture Affect Intimacy, Commitment & Love |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00223980.2023.2244129 |journal=The Journal of Psychology |volume=158 |issue=1 |pages=84–114 |doi=10.1080/00223980.2023.2244129 |pmid=37647358 |s2cid=261394941 |issn=0022-3980|url-access=subscription }}</ref> For example, [[cross-cultural]] research finds that individuals in China prefer indirect and implicit communication with their romantic partner, whereas European Americans report preferring direct communication. The use of a culturally appropriate communication style influences anticipated relationship satisfaction.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Ge |first1=Fiona |last2=Park |first2=Jiyoung |last3=Pietromonaco |first3=Paula R. |date=2022 |title=How You Talk About It Matters: Cultural Variation in Communication Directness in Romantic Relationships |url=http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/00220221221088934 |journal=Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology |language=en |volume=53 |issue=6 |pages=583–602 |doi=10.1177/00220221221088934 |s2cid=247959876 |issn=0022-0221|url-access=subscription }}</ref> Culture can also impact expectations within a relationship and the relative importance of various relationship-centered values such as emotional closeness, equity, status, and autonomy.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Cionea |first1=Ioana A. |last2=Van Gilder |first2=Bobbi J. |last3=Hoelscher |first3=Carrisa S. |last4=Anagondahalli |first4=Deepa |date=2019-10-02 |title=A cross-cultural comparison of expectations in romantic relationships: India and the United States |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/17513057.2018.1542019 |journal=Journal of International and Intercultural Communication |language=en |volume=12 |issue=4 |pages=289–307 |doi=10.1080/17513057.2018.1542019 |s2cid=150097472 |issn=1751-3057|url-access=subscription }}</ref>

While [[love]] has been identified as a universal human [[emotion]],<ref>{{Citation |last1=Treger |first1=Stanislav |title=Love |date=2014 |url=http://link.springer.com/10.1007/978-94-007-0753-5_1706 |encyclopedia=Encyclopedia of Quality of Life and Well-Being Research |pages=3708–3712 |editor-last=Michalos |editor-first=Alex C. |access-date=2023-11-21 |place=Dordrecht |publisher=Springer Netherlands |language=en |doi=10.1007/978-94-007-0753-5_1706 |isbn=978-94-007-0752-8 |last2=Sprecher |first2=Susan |last3=Hatfield |first3=Elaine C.|url-access=subscription }}</ref> the ways love is expressed and its importance in intimate relationships vary based on the culture within which a relationship takes place. Culture is especially salient in structuring beliefs about institutions that recognize intimate relationships such as [[marriage]]. The idea that love is necessary for marriage is a strongly held belief in the United States,<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Simpson |first1=Jeffry A. |last2=Campbell |first2=Bruce |last3=Berscheid |first3=Ellen |date=1986 |title=The Association between Romantic Love and Marriage: Kephart (1967) Twice Revisited |url=http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0146167286123011 |journal=Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin |language=en |volume=12 |issue=3 |pages=363–372 |doi=10.1177/0146167286123011 |s2cid=145051003 |issn=0146-1672|url-access=subscription }}</ref> whereas in India, a distinction is made between traditional [[arranged marriage]]s and "[[love marriage]]s" (also called personal choice marriages).<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Cardona |first1=Betty |last2=Bedi |first2=Robinder P. |last3=Crookston |first3=Bradley J. |date=2019 |title=Choosing Love Over Tradition: Lived Experiences of Asian Indian Marriages |url=http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1066480719852994 |journal=The Family Journal |language=en |volume=27 |issue=3 |pages=278–286 |doi=10.1177/1066480719852994 |s2cid=195554512 |issn=1066-4807|url-access=subscription }}</ref>