From prohibition to proof of authenticity: the myth of romantic love experienced as madness and its impacts on mental health

Abstract

The present article continues the research agenda of the first author, who studies love through the lens of the social construction of myths. In this article, we aim to examine the extent to which love myths can impact women’s affective experiences, focusing on the myths of the soulmate and love as madness. To this end, we conducted a study within a WhatsApp group composed of women seeking support to leave abusive relationships, in addition to conducting interviews with three women from this group, whose experiences reflect the recurring narratives within the group. Theoretically, we draw inspiration from Durkheim’s perspective on the social function of myth. The data indicate that the love experienced by these women aligns with the romantic love model, showing strong association between love and madness as a proof of authenticity and true love, which results in various forms of emotional suffering, particularly the feeling 
of guilt.