Two new studies presented at the Society for Personality and Social Psychology conference in Austin, Texas, examined 150 couples. The couples answered basic get-to-know-you questions such as “What is your idea of a perfect day?” or “What was the most embarrassing moment in your life?” The researchers found that couples who discussed deep, personal topics and responded to one another in a positive way were much more likely to report an increase in passionate love toward their partner compared to couples who kept the conversation to non-emotional, surface chatter. “Having a couple respond positively to you and your partner may provide you with a fresh, positive view of your partner, or the other couple may serve as a role model and inspire couples to feel more positively about their relationships,” says Keith Welker, an author and doctoral student at Wayne State University. Welker suggests planning a double date in a place where both couples will feel comfortable revealing intimate details about themselves. This may not happen at a restaurant or public place, where constant distractions or interruptions could make sharing difficult. Instead, invite a couple over for dinner at home, Welker suggests. More from Prevention: Improve Your Sex Life in 14 Days
