The article explores the complexities of unattainable love, illustrating how psychological theories, such as the scarcity effect and partial reinforcement, contribute to our desire for what we cannot possess. It discusses how love that feels out of reach can shape our emotional needs, often leading us to value it more highly. The piece emphasizes that this longing can persist despite knowing it may not lead to fulfillment, as we cope with cognitive dissonance and reframe our thoughts around these challenging connections.
One explanation is the scarcity effect, which suggests that we assign greater value to things that are rare or difficult to obtain.
Another key factor is partial reinforcement, a principle from behavioral psychology describing how we become more invested in things that only sometimes reward us.
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