
Lovebird Scale
Curious whether your romance is flourishing and deeply satisfying? Take this test to find out.
By Mark Travers, Ph.D.
October 30, 2024

By Mark Travers, Ph.D.
October 30, 2024
Mark Travers, Ph.D., is the lead psychologist at Awake Therapy, responsible for new client intake and placement. Mark received his B.A. in psychology, magna cum laude, from Cornell University and his M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Colorado Boulder. His academic research has been published in leading psychology journals and has been featured in The New York Times and The New Yorker, among other popular publications. He is a regular contributor for Forbes and Psychology Today, where he writes about psycho-educational topics such as happiness, relationships, personality, and life meaning. Click here to schedule an initial consultation with Mark or another member of the Awake Therapy team. Or, you can drop him a note here.
A "lovebird relationship" is characterized by love, passion, affection, mutual trust, support and responsiveness. Such partners care deeply about each other's goals, needs and well-being—savoring each precious moment together. They commit to keeping the romance alive and thriving, creating a foundation for long-lasting love.
Built to assess the feelings, behaviors and attitudes that define such relationships, the Lovebird Scale invites couples to reflect on the elements that contribute to a deeply satisfying and enduring partnership and gain insight into their relationship's health.
Using straightforward yet meaningful statements, this scale—developed by researchers Sara Cloonan, Lara Ault, Karen L Weihs and Richard D Lane—touches on everything from emotional closeness and physical attraction to shared goals and the little things that make love feel special.
These elements work together to paint a fuller picture of the bond you share with your partner and can serve as a tool for personal reflection or a conversation starter for those who want to nurture an even stronger connection.
References: Cloonan, S., Ault, L., Weihs, K., & Lane, R. (2024). Development and preliminary validation of the Lovebird Scale. Behavioral Sciences, 14(9), 747. https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14090747