I have listed a few thoughts on what I think her motivation is.

[A Red Panda]

If I say "I love you" to someone it means simply that I love them, without conditions, and that I am glad to have them in my life and don't want them to not be in my life.

I've had some experiences in which "I love you" from a man means, "I want some tail." In the long term, from the same man, it can mean, "Even if I offer you nothing in return, and in fact I neglect you and verbally degrade you, I love having you around as my eye candy and personal servant." This is not directed against all men (I certainly do have a good husband now) but just the ones to whom it would apply, that's all.

I was split between 1 and 3 but I chose 1 because it was a little closer. By the way, when I say "I love you" to my husband, what I mean is, "You are the best. This world would be a better place if more men were like you, and I'm glad you chose me as a partner."

Asking a poll question to people (whether all genders or just one) is silly. It's an individual thing and not something that can be quantified as if "most women" say it for 1 particular reason or another. This applies the same to men, adults, teens or otherwise. Asking this question implies that you're trying to figure out what a large sector of the population does and is full of folly. Every person whether they fall into a group of one sort or another is an individual and does so for their own unique reasons.

If you're trying to determine why the female are with is sincere or not, you need to go to the source and ask her whether she means it or not. If you can't trust her words to mean what she says then why are you even with her?

[STASlS]

I say "I love you" to my boyfriend for many reasons.
It can be out of appreciation, caring, or much more. He's extremely special to me and I want him to feel special.

[Maria116]

I didn't answer the poll above. I tell somebody I love them when I love them. What do you mean by "motivation"?

Originally Posted by Maria116

I didn't answer the poll above. I tell somebody I love them when I love them. What do you mean by "motivation"?

Well said

[manxcatwoman]

I remember reading somewhere that we're attracted to people who make us feel special.

[Voss]

Ask your girlfriend (?), dude.

[Perna]

I feel good hearing it from my husband and know he likes to hear it from me.

[offthegrid]

"love" means different things for different people. We don't know the context. If you need clarification about things like this, it's much less stressful to be honest about it with that person.

[wife22]

I personally wouldn't be able to say "I love you" for above reasons,simply because they would all fit into the category of good friendship also,Love is something much more then a compromise,it is an unconditional passion,devotion.There is a hint of calculation if one has to think of motives to love

[Nicks_Nose]

When I have voiced my love for a partner, it was reaffirming to him that he was special to me in a way nobody else was. I shared my heart and mind with him and accepted everything about him as he was. I just wish I could find somebody who could do the same through all of the ups and downs of life's struggles.

I don't want to ask her because I don't want to draw attention to the fact that I don't reciprocate with these words.

[niceguy]

When I say I love you, it's because I do. End of story. 'Love is not a maybe thing- you know when you love somebody' - there are many kinds of love, but if your 'in love' with somebody, it's because they are never far from your mind...

What do you mean by, you don't reciprocate with those words. Does that mean the sentiment of love, or that you feel it, but can't express it?

I was always taught that if you love somebody you should say it, because you never know when that person may be gone and the regret would far outweigh them not returning it.

However, having someone I truly loved not saying it, hurt like hell. Especially when I believe they did...

[ChipperMonkey]

Reason 5...."I love you" means just that, only that, and nothing but that. Love is not a manipulation tool. I don't say it to get something from the other person, nor do I say it to hear it said back to me. I care about a lot of people but I don't tell them I love them.

[Trippin2.0]

I couldn't vote because my option is "I say I love you because its true, I do"...