Every question in Loveree is built on published research about how people grow closer. Here’s what those studies found — and how we use it.
Answer apart, reveal together
Study: Arthur Aron, Edward Melinat, Elaine N. Aron, Robert Darrin Vallone & Renee J. Bator (1997). The Experimental Generation of Interpersonal Closeness: A Procedure and Some Preliminary Findings. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 23(4), 363–377. doi.org/10.1177/0146167297234003
What they found
Pairs of strangers who took turns answering a sequence of increasingly personal questions felt closer afterwards than pairs who made small talk. This is the study behind the well-known “36 questions.”
How Loveree uses it
Questions start light on Monday and become a little more personal by Friday. You each answer on your own, then see both answers together.
Knowing each other’s inner world
Source: John M. Gottman & Nan Silver (1999). The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work. Crown Publishers. Concept: “love maps”. The Gottman Institute: Build Love Maps
What they describe
Gottman’s research on couples describes “love maps” — how much partners know about each other’s worries, hopes and everyday preferences — and how couples who keep updating that knowledge cope better with change.
How Loveree uses it
Before you pick your own answer, you guess his. Over a week you see how well your “map” of each other matches.
Looking each other in the eye
Study: Joan Kellerman, James Lewis & James D. Laird (1989). Looking and Loving: The Effects of Mutual Gaze on Feelings of Romantic Love. Journal of Research in Personality, 23(2), 145–161. doi.org/10.1016/0092-6566(89)90020-2
What they found
Pairs of strangers — a man and a woman — who held two minutes of mutual eye contact reported higher feelings of affection for each other than pairs who looked at each other’s hands.
How Loveree uses it
The weekly surprise game includes one minute with phones down. If you both choose it, that minute is eye contact; otherwise it’s a quiet minute of noticing each other.
Doing something new together
Study: Arthur Aron, Christina C. Norman, Elaine N. Aron, Colin McKenna & Richard E. Heyman (2000). Couples’ Shared Participation in Novel and Arousing Activities and Experienced Relationship Quality. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 78(2), 273–284. doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.78.2.273
What they found
Couples who did a novel, mildly challenging activity together reported higher relationship quality afterwards than couples who did something routine.
How Loveree uses it
At the end of your week, you’re offered a surprise game for the two of you — something a little unusual, together.
Saying thank you, out loud
Study: Sara B. Algoe, Shelly L. Gable & Natalya C. Maisel (2010). It’s the Little Things: Everyday Gratitude as a Booster Shot for Romantic Relationships. Personal Relationships, 17(2), 217–233. doi.org/10.1111/j.1475-6811.2010.01273.x
Also: Sara B. Algoe, Barbara L. Fredrickson & Shelly L. Gable (2013). The Social Functions of the Emotion of Gratitude via Expression. Emotion, 13(4), 605–609. doi.org/10.1037/a0032701
What they found
In couples, everyday moments of gratitude predicted feeling more connected and more satisfied the next day; expressing gratitude to a partner was linked to the partner seeing the relationship more positively.
How Loveree uses it
The surprise game ends with a short sealed note you write to each other. It opens when you both tap — or at a time you choose.
These researchers are not affiliated with Loveree and have not reviewed or endorsed it. We built our questions and our weekly game on their published work. Loveree is a game for couples, not professional relationship advice.
