Romantic Belief: Studi Literatur

Abstract. This study aims to examine romantic belief as a psychological construct that contains a set of ideal beliefs about love and romantic relationships, as well as to analyze the factors that influence it and its implications for relationship quality. Romantic belief consists of four dimensions, namely love finds a way, one and only, idealization, and love at first sight. This study uses a literature review method by examining various scientific articles, books, and proceedings published between 1989 and 2023, both classical and contemporary research. The literature search criteria included a focus on romantic beliefs, their influence on romantic relationships, and the role of internal factors (such as attachment and self-esteem) and external factors (such as culture, family, and digital media). The results of the study show that romantic beliefs play an ambivalent role: they can strengthen commitment, increase satisfaction, and foster optimism, but on the other hand, they also risk creating unrealistic standards that trigger conflict and disappointment. In the digital age, exposure to popular media and dating games reinforces the narrative of ideal love, which often widens the gap between fantasy and reality. Therefore, a critical understanding of romantic beliefs is important to help individuals develop healthy expectations in relationships. Abstrak. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengkaji romantic belief sebagai konstruk psikologis yang berisi seperangkat keyakinan ideal mengenai cinta dan hubungan romantis, sekaligus menganalisis faktor-faktor yang memengaruhinya serta implikasinya terhadap kualitas relasi. Romantic belief terdiri atas empat dimensi, yaitu love finds a way, one and only, idealization, dan love at first sight. Kajian ini menggunakan metode studi literatur dengan menelaah berbagai artikel ilmiah, buku, serta prosiding yang terbit antara tahun 1989 hingga 2023, baik penelitian klasik maupun kontemporer. Kriteria pencarian literatur meliputi fokus pada romantic belief, pengaruhnya terhadap hubungan romantis, serta peran faktor internal (seperti keterikatan dan harga diri) dan eksternal (seperti budaya, keluarga, serta media digital). Hasil kajian menunjukkan bahwa romantic belief berperan ambivalen: dapat memperkuat komitmen, meningkatkan kepuasan, dan menumbuhkan optimisme, namun di sisi lain juga berisiko menciptakan standar yang tidak realistis sehingga memicu konflik dan kekecewaan. Dalam era digital, paparan media populer dan dating game memperkuat narasi cinta ideal yang kerap memperlebar kesenjangan antara fantasi dan realitas. Oleh karena itu, pemahaman kritis terhadap romantic belief penting untuk membantu individu mengembangkan ekspektasi yang sehat dalam menjalin hubungan.