Sergio Rinaldi, Politecnico di Milano, Milano, Italy
Alessandra Gragnani, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis. Laxenburg, Austria

Abstract: A mathematical model composed of two differential equations, which qualitatively describe the dynamics of love between secure individuals, is presented in this paper with two goals. The general goal is to show how dynamic phenomena in the field of social psychology can be analyzed following the modelling approach traditionally used in all other fields of sciences. The specific goal is to derive, from very general assumptions on the behavior of secure individuals, a series of rather detailed properties of the dynamics of their feelings. The analysis shows, in particular, why couples can be partitioned into fragile and robust couples, how romantic relationships are influenced by behavioral parameters and in which sense individual appeal creates order in a community.

Keywords: dyadic relationships, love dynamics: partner selection: community structure: stability, multiple equilibria