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Why is love so important for mankind? All in all, is not such a fundamental thing in our lives. Most of us probably spend more time watching stupid videos on youtube or masturbating than talking with their lover and having sex with him, so it's not a problem of boredom. Biological needings as well can be easily satisfied by occasional sex or whores. Emotional ones with strong friendship. And there are more serious problems than love: it's not only in the rich west that people base most of their problems/neurosis or even psychosis on love. Even in places where finding something to eat and avoid dying of malaria should reasonably be the most important thing to worry about, still people gets mentally ill mainly cause of relationship problems. Why?

You've never been in love, I assume.

I say mostly because its part of socialization process, its a necessary "game" to participate in to be recognized as a fully functioning, capable member of today's society. romantic love was not such a big meme in pre-modern societies after all. So contrary to what OP assumed I say there isn't any evolutionary explanation to this phenomenon you are describing but a social one. unlike romantic relationships, having friends or being liked in general is a more built-in need.

It feels good, and therefore people do it. Not that hard to understand.