Love Styles Revisited: A Cross-National Comparison with Particular Reference to South Africa

Abstract

Previous research has shown that distinct attitude profiles toward love exist in North America and Uganda, as a representative of an African culture. Given the social upheaval currently occurring in South Africa and the particular nature of its official policy toward ethnic relations, the present paper aimed to compare and contrast the attitudes toward love in South Africa with those prevalent in the other two cultures. The data suggest that although the notion of Romantic Power appeared to be cross-culturally equivalent, there were distinct international differences in Romantic Idealism and Conjugal Love attitudes. The policy of Apartheid served as an explanatory vehicle.