Theories of love vary in their approach, but can generally be grouped into four general categories. Each type includes some ideas central to the others, and some overlap with each other. Classifying theories may involve excessive pigeonholing, however. Many theories of love are quasi-reductionist, in that they understand love in terms of concepts like affection, evaluation, and attachment. Although many people have their own personal views of love, these theories may not be equally useful.
Love is often portrayed as tragic. There are many tragic stories that end in a tragedy because of love. Love has burned many people and inspired countless songs about the ups and downs of relationships. Though it is a free emotion, love is a powerful motivator and can result in toxic behavior. Often times, this destructive type of love is more intense in youth. The definition of love varies greatly, but no matter what the definition of love is, it persists in our lives.
Humans’ periods of childhood are longer, which means that they rely on other adults for many years. Because of this, love is important to us, and there is evidence that it has biological and evolutionary roots. Neurophysiological studies of romantic love show that it triggers an increased activity of brain regions that reward us with pleasure. These brain regions are the same as those activated when we enjoy a drug, including cocaine. Therefore, there is an evolutionary reason for the existence of passionate love.
Researchers have long debated the definition of love. They argue that love is a complex emotion that exists in our bodies, mind, and culture. Some claim that love is not an emotion and is simply a physiological drive. Others disagree and argue that it is a cultural phenomenon. Some have also suggested that love is a complex emotion with multiple layers of complexity. It is also important to recognize that love is not a universal emotion that can be categorized into one single type.
Many people dream of finding a long-term relationship. However, the media portrays love in a negative light, whereas the experience of true love is different. True love is an intense, personal connection with another person. You will feel warm and secure inside when you are in love. You will be completely dedicated to making your partner happy and comfortable. There is no greater feeling than falling in love with someone. So how do you tell if you’re in love?
While the bestowal account has a kernel of truth, it has a problem: it explains love as an attitude toward value. Then, love is not simply a response to the value of an antecedent. Love is creative. In the absence of antecedent value, it cannot be defined as love. A love-oriented view identifies values as a process of creating a value for someone else. It reflects the creative aspect of love, but it fails to explain how love is a response to a value.
