The study of love is a relatively new field. Freud, the founder of psychoanalysis, argued that love was a subject worthy of scientific investigation. While thousands of years of artistic treatment and creative writing have explored the topic, he argued that science should also take a look at love. Nevertheless, early explorations of love met with considerable criticism. The critics, including U.S. Senator William Proxmire, derided love research as a waste of taxpayer money.
The word agape, which means “to care for” or “to cherish,” is often used in relation to God. Originally from the Greek language, agape is a kind of love that never loses its intensity. Even though God’s people repeatedly fell into idolatry, His steadfast love was still able to preserve His chosen people, even after they sinned against him. And that’s what we should strive to achieve in our own relationships.
There are many different definitions of love. According to Merriam Webster, love is a strong affection for another person. Although English has only one word for love, other languages also have similar terms. In addition to romantic love, human love encompasses a range of attitudes, feelings, and behaviors. Love is not one particular emotion. It’s a complex concept, which is why it’s difficult to define. The dictionary describes love as “deep affection, aimed at satisfying the needs of another person.”
While humans may experience long periods of dependence on others, their period of childhood is significantly shorter than that of other animals. Therefore, the human need for love extends well beyond sexual attraction. It’s a biological and evolutionary concept, and a strong bond between two people is necessary for human survival. In fact, the two types of love are very similar in their neural activity. So, the question is, why are humans capable of feeling love? In short, love has many different meanings.
The bestowal view has some kernels of truth. Love is not a response to antecedent value, but rather a creative process. According to this view, love is an independent creative force, and not the result of an appraisal process. Therefore, any account of love that understands evaluation in terms of appraisal is missing something. A deeper understanding of love is needed to develop a truly satisfying and long-term relationship. So, let’s explore the meaning of love.
The second aspect of love is sharing one’s values. It involves trust, respect, and affection for the sake of the other person. Such behavior is an act of intimate identification, and this is what makes love a powerful emotion. However, many people confuse love with attachment. In reality, love is a response to other people’s needs. It involves caring for the needs of another person, wishing for their benefit, and delighting in their accomplishments.
In this phase, the relationship has reached a turning point. The ability to deal with conflict, communicate openly, and compromise is important. Instead of trying to change your partner, focus on respecting each other. The ability to manage bumps in the road to true intimacy and attachment is a sign that the relationship is stable. So, don’t wait for perfection to find the answer to the question, “Is love a perfect relationship?”