The fickle heart of the modern consumer society

Illouz, a sociologist at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, attempts to explain the specific modern form of "romantic misery and happiness". She says our consumerist, capitalist culture has changed the face of our relationships beyond all recognition.
Love hurts more than ever before (blame the internet and capitalism) | Life and style | The Observer
"Men and women are definitely needing each other less as their roles converge," said Glenn Wilson, a fellow of the British Psychology Association and visiting professor at Gresham College, London. "I think the main change over the years is the Hollywood-driven belief that love and marriage should be contiguous – go together like horse and carriage. Because passion is short-lived, this results in our pattern of serial monogamy – repeated divorce and remarriage, leaving a trail of destruction.