HYPOTHESIS AND THEORY article
Front. Sociol.
Sec. Sociological Theory
Volume 10 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fsoc.2025.1515473
LOVE, CULTURE, RATIONALITY AND LEARNING PROCESS
Provisionally accepted- 1University of Caldas, Manizales, Colombia
- 2Militar University of New Granada, Bogotá, Cundinamarca, Colombia
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The dynamics within romantic relationships reflect and influence broader family structures. This article examines family dynamics by analyzing various social identities and power structures, such as gender and social class, through a rational choice methodological approach. It challenges the notion that past family stability was due to stronger values, arguing instead that it was supported by oppressive structures, primarily patriarchal. By critiquing these power structures, we aim to present a more inclusive and equitable perspective on family dynamics. We introduce a rational choice model from game theory to analyze stability patterns in romantic relationships, focusing on empathy coefficients and cultural factors. This model investigates the role of economic altruism theory and cultural identities in shaping empathy and their impact on relationships. The study also explores individual well-being across different cultural contexts, including representations of courtly love and patriarchal norms. An instrumental rationality perspective is proposed to address the irrationality of love from a rational standpoint in family literature. Simulation is crucial for validating the model and evaluating the assumptions in realistic contexts. It provides insights into the model's behavior under various conditions, highlighting limitations and aspects previously unconsidered. This approach is essential for verifying implementation, validating assumptions, and exploring data uncertainties. By employing this methodology, future research can gain a deeper understanding of the complexities in family dynamics and romantic relationships.
Keywords: family theory, Positive interdependence, Empirical simulations, iterative methods, Game theory, romantic relationships, optimization
Received: 22 Oct 2024; Accepted: 01 Jul 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Cendales, Guerrero-Sierra and Lopez-Montenegro. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Andrés Cendales, University of Caldas, Manizales, Colombia
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