The Science Behind Taylor Swift's Winning Relationship With Travis Kelce
If there's one thing we can say about Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce, it's that they're clearly one another's biggest cheerleaders. The two have not only been seen crossing the U.S., but literal oceans to show their support for each other (Swift's famous red eye flight from Tokyo to Las Vegas for the Superbowl, and Kelce's trip to Australia to catch her Sydney "Eras tour" stop prove that).
For those who have followed Swift's life for years, it's impossible not to acknowledge how pivotal this kind of support is. After all, this is something we've not really seen in her previous relationships. Swift's ex-boyfriend, Joe Alwyn, for example, made a point of not speaking publicly about her when they were together. "It's not really [because I] want to be guarded and private, it's more a response," Alwyn told Elle U.K. the year before the pair split. "We live in a culture that is so increasingly intrusive ... the more you give — and frankly, even if you don't give it — something will be taken."
But Swift and Kelce don't seem too worried about that. And that's something Dr. Phil McGraw believes may be keeping their relationship strong. "You've got two successful people here, both of them are happy, both of them are achievers, and they seem really happy for each other's success," the TV psychologist explained on "TMZ Investigates: Taylor and Travis, Ultimate Love Story. " "There seems to be no envy, no jealousy, and they're both just cheerleaders for the other one," he said. And it turns out, there's actually some science behind why that dynamic works so well.
They're each other's biggest cheerleader
According to 2021 research conducted by Dr. Tara Suwinyattichaiporn (known as Dr. Tara), Laura K. Guerrero and Mark A. Generous, fulfilling long-term relationships tend to be made up of five factors: experience sharing, empathic voice, emotional reactivity, empathic touch, and verbal affirmation. Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's enviable relationship is the perfect example of the latter. Despite her busy schedule, Swift was physically present for 13 of Kelce's NFL season games. Kelce, meanwhile, has flown to multiple Eras Tour shows to support Swift.
As Dr. Tara put it to Well + Good, "When you cheer on your partner, that signals to them that they can trust you to celebrate their wins." Research backs this up. A 2007 study found that couples tended to stay together longer with partners who encourage them after a positive event, like a promotion. The same study also found those same couples had greater relationship satisfaction overall, compared to those who had partners who responded neutrally or indifferent to their partner's wins.
It's not just those who receive the encouragement that benefit from this, either. 2020 research published in Frontiers in Psychology suggested that the act of providing support to your partner has its own health benefits, too. According to Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, "providing support to someone else should increase self-esteem and well-being because it makes the provider feel needed, important, and valuable."
The louder the support, the better
Referring back to that 2007 study, it turns out that the way you cheer your partner on matters, too. The more enthusiasm you show, the better. Swift is a great example of this; She didn't just show up to Kelce's games quietly. The star has been seen in Kelce's VIP box with his family and friends, wearing the Kansas City Chief's team signature red, cheering loudly whenever her boyfriend scores a goal.
Now, this doesn't necessarily mean a person has to literally scream their support (and probably for the best if you're not dating an athlete) to make their partner feel appreciated. But, as the study notes, passive or neutral responses, even when they are supportive, such as an unenthusiastic "good job" aren't going to do as much for your bond as excited ones. If you need further proof, look to what Kelce has said about how much he enjoys having Swift cheer him on. "I love it when Taylor comes and supports me and enjoys the game with the fam and friends," he admitted on "The Pat McAfee Show" in January.
Swift has made it pretty clear she appreciates seeing Kelce turn out for her, too. In a video posted to X, formerly known as Twitter, the singer can be seen pointing at the football player from the stage while singing the line "That's my man!" from her track "Willow" during her tour stop in Sydney.
Verbal affirmation is everything
Along with being present, successful partnerships thrive when the individuals make a point to celebrate each other. "A primary human need in any meaningful personal relationship is to feel 'affirmed,' i.e., seen, valued, and validated by the other person," Dr. Paul explained to Well + Good. "Meeting this need with the use of verbal communication — written or spoken — constitutes what [Gary] Chapman calls the 'words of affirmation' love language."
Anyone who has watched the viral clip of Kelce and Swift on the field at the 2024 Super Bowl can clearly see that verbal affirmation is a big part of their relationship. In the video, Swift can be heard describing the victory as "unbelievable," telling Kelce how wowed she was by his electric performance in the game.
And although there is some doubt about the validity of love languages, Swift has made it clear she's a fan of dishing out support to her beau. "When you say a relationship is public, that means I'm going to see him do what he loves, we're showing up for each other, other people are there and we don't care," she told Time in 2023. "The opposite of that is you have to go to an extreme amount of effort to make sure no one knows that you're seeing someone. And we're just proud of each other."