Portrayals of Romantic Deception to the Masses: An Analysis of Classic and Contemporary Arts, Modern Technologies, and Empirical Literature

Abstract

As with most universal experiences, romantic deception has long been the inspiration for creative works, including literary classics and paintings that date back several centuries, as well as modern television, film, and literature. The dynamics of romantic deception have further evolved with recent developments in technology, such that modern communication outlets increase the opportunities for romantic deception. In this chapter, we discuss both classic and contemporary portrayals of romantic deception across literature, arts, and communication outlets and present an empirically informed analysis of romantic deception based on psychological research.