the social construction of love in women’s experience: a qualitative approach to the problems and consequences of romantic relationships among the single girls in the tehran

mate selection is either the effect of the love or romantic relationship or a cause of formation of pre-marital romantic relationships among today’s generations. few number of sociological researches performed in this area necessitates its examination. so, the current research aims to present a deep understanding of romantic relationship and its destructive aspects among women. this study attempts to investigate the concept of love, reasons of women’s tendency to the romantic relationship and how they interact in such relationships. this study uses a qualitative research along with a case study method. theoretical sampling according to the theoretical saturation and analytic induction gave rise to selection of 20 women who had experienced romantic relationships. results showed that emotional reduction and strict importance of satisfaction of emotional need can lead to unequal romantic relationship, so women consider love as an emotional shelter. conditions which intensify emotional need of women include: authoritarian/ neglecting family as well as emotional rivalry among friends; therefore, they see their beloved as the exclusive source to meet their emotional need. in conclusion, they pursue a behavioral passivity and identical simulation in their interaction with their beloved. the consequence will be that they will be socially neglected while facing emotional breakdown if split-up occurs.