Love is Tantalizing, Fascinating, Provocative, Unconditional, and Unlimited

Dancing Elephant Press Prompt Week 40 of 52 — Love — Article 2 of a 4-article series

Dear Reader,

Welcome back from the break after Article 1. This is article 2 of our 4-article series on Love. In this article, we will examine Storge Love, Secondary Types of Love, Three Models of Love, An Abstract Point of View, Biological Basis for Love, Psychological Basis for Love, Evolutionary Basis for Love, and we will begin examining Cultural Views of Love.

Storge

Storge is Greek for familial love. Storge’s love grows out of friendship. Commitment and similar interests are what make this love soar. Storge makes familial loyalties, responsibilities, duties, and entitlements necessary. Except for marriage, relationships exist by blood for as long as individuals have known each other.

The dwelling is a sanctuary for members to pull together in difficult times. Color wheel theory of love. (2023, January 29). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colour_wheel_theory_of_love#Ludus

Secondary Types of Love

On Lee’s color wheel theory, the three secondary types of love are mania, agape, and pragma. Color wheel theory of love. (2023, January 29). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colour_wheel_theory_of_love

Mania

Mania means mental disorder. Manic love is love flowing out of a desire to hold one’s partner in high esteem and to love and be loved this way, seeing a distinction in the interaction. This type of love leads a partner into madness and obsessiveness.

The purple color on the wheel represents mania, a combination of Ludas and Eros. Color wheel theory of love. (2023, January 29). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colour_wheel_theory_of_love

Lee’s Recognizable Traits of Mania include:

- Anxiety about falling in love, with pain expected.

- Overwhelmed by the thoughts of a partner.

- Forcing a partner to show attention and affection.

- Frustration and not enjoying sexual intimacy.

- Possessiveness and jealousy.

Color wheel theory of love. (2023, January 29). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colour_wheel_theory_of_love

Agape

The lover sees this love as his obligation without expecting reciprocity.

Lee believed that Agapic lovers were older and more mature in emotions. Will and reason guide this love more than emotion and attraction.

Agape is an all-giving, selfless love.

This type of love is a mix between Storge and Eros. Color wheel theory of love. (2023, January 29). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colour_wheel_theory_of_love

Lee’s Recognizable Traits of Agape include:

- Attraction to several types of people.

- Meet other people fast and can start with a stranger.

- Concern and care for each partner.

- Neither Jealous nor Obsessive.

- Enjoys sex and is willing to improve.

Color wheel theory of love. (2023, January 29). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colour_wheel_theory_of_love

Pragma

Lee defined pragma as the most suitable type of love, not derived from true romantic love. Pragma is a convenient type of love. Pragmatic lovers perceive they are of service to be rational and realistic. It means that the expectations of the partner and the relationship are helpful.

There is a tendency to select or reject partners based on the perception of desirable, compatible traits. Pragmatic lovers desire to find value in their partners and want to work toward a common goal. The value of a pragmatic relationship is cooperation and should not become negative.

In an arranged marriage, pragmatic love is common. Values are shared by a couple where survival and the building of wealth are prioritized over other pursuits. Color wheel theory of love. (2023, January 29). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colour_wheel_theory_of_love

Lee’s Recognizable Traits of Pragma include:

- Certain preferable types.

- Begin a relationship with an already known person.

- Believes a loving relationship leads to a happy life.

- Expects reciprocity of feelings.

- The partners believe they can work out any sexual compatibility.

Color wheel theory of love. (2023, January 29). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colour_wheel_theory_of_love

Sternberg’s Three Models of Love

The Spearmanian model states that love is a single bundle of positive feelings.

The Thomsonian model says that love is a mixture of multiple feelings that, when brought together, produce the feeling.

The Thurstonian model is closest to the triangular theory. Love is feelings of equal importance best understood independently instead of as an integrated whole.

Triangular theory of love. (2023, July 1). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triangular_theory_of_love

There are many types of love, social views, and concepts. There are so many that a single article could not cover them all. Looking at how the word love can get used is intriguing. Love is contrasted with hate when used as a general expression of positive sentiment.

We can distinguish it from lust as a less sexual, more emotional, intimate romantic attachment. We can also contrast it as an interpersonal relationship with romantic overtones, as nothing more than friendship. Love. (2023, June 26). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Love

Love From an Abstract Point of View

Love refers to an experience one person feels for another person. Love can involve caring for or identifying with a person or thing. Ideas about love have changed over time. Historians date modern ideas about romantic love to Europe during or after the Middle Ages. Love. (2023, June 26). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Love

People can have a profound dedication and immense appreciation for an object, principle, or objective. People experience love for it. People can also love material objects, animals, or activities if they invest themselves in bonding with these things. Love. (2023, June 26). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Love

People studied and wrote psychology in the 20th century about love. Psychology, anthropology, neuroscience, and biology have increased our understanding of love. Love. (2023, June 26). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Love

Biological basis

Biological models of sex are a mammalian drive like hunger or thirst, according to Helen Fisher, an anthropologist, and human behavior researcher. In most mammalian species, sex hormones control the ability and motivation to engage in sex. Effects of hormones on sexual motivation. (2023, May 22). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Effects_of_hormones_on_sexual_motivation. Fisher divides the experience of love into three stages, lust, attraction, and attachment.

Lust

Lust is the feeling of sexual desire; romantic attraction determines what partners’ mates find attractive and pursue; and attachment involves sharing a home, parental duties, mutual defense, and in humans, involves feelings of safety and security.

Lust promotes mating and involves the increased release of chemicals such as testosterone and estrogen. These effects last up to a few weeks or months. In the Catholic faith, lust is the idolatry of sexual pleasure in all its forms.

Attraction

Attraction is the more individualized and romantic desire for a specific candidate for mating; it develops out of lust as a commitment to an individual mate. Attraction increases energy and focuses attention on desired individuals. Research has shown that this stage can last from one and a half to three years.

Attachment

Lust and attraction are temporary; the third stage deals with long-term relationships. Attachment is the bonding that promotes relationships lasting for many years and even decades. Commitments like marriage and children or mutual friendship based on shared interests define attachment. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Love

Psychological basis

Eric Fromm, a psychologist, maintained in his book The Art of Loving that love is not just a feeling but also actions, and the “feeling” of love is superficial compared to one’s commitment to love with loving actions over time. Fromm held that love is not a feeling but a commitment to, and adherence to, loving actions towards another, oneself, or many others over a sustained duration.

Fromm also described love as a conscious choice that, in its beginning stages, might originate as an involuntary feeling. Later, it no longer depends on those feelings but on conscious commitment. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Love, . http://theinfolist.com/php/SummaryGet.php?FindGo=Love_coupon

Evolutionary basis

Evolutionary psychology has attempted to provide various reasons for love as a survival tool. Humans depend on parental help for much of their lifespans compared to other mammals. Love is a mechanism to promote parental support for children for this extended time.

Another factor may be that diseases transmitted through sex can cause permanently reduced fertility, fetal injury, and increased complications during childbirth. These facts would favor monogamous relationships over polygamy. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Love

Cultural views

Ancient Greek

Ancient Greeks identified four forms of love: kinship or familiarity (in Greek, storge), friendship and platonic desire (Philia), sexual and romantic desire (Eros), and self-emptying or divine love (agape).

Agape means love in modern-day Greek. The term “agapo” means “I love you” in Greek. It refers to a “pure,” ideal type of love rather than the physical attraction Eros suggests. Some examples of agape used to mean the same as Eros. It is also called “love of the soul.”

Eros (from the Greek deity Eros) is passionate love with sensual desire and longing. The Greek word erota means in love. Love — The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia. http://www.artandpopularculture.com/Love. Eros helps the soul recall beauty and knowledge and contributes to understanding spiritual truth. Lovers and philosophers are all inspired to seek truth by Eros. Some translations list it as “love of the body.”

Philia is a dispassionate virtuous love that was addressed and developed by Aristotle. It includes loyalty to friends, family, and community and requires virtue, equality, and familiarity. Philia is motivated by practical reasons; one or both parties benefit from the relationship. It can also mean “love of the mind.”

Storge is natural affection like that felt by parents for offspring.

Xenia means hospitality, a critical practice in ancient Greece. The host fed and provided quarters for the guest, who paid with gratitude. Greek mythology, like Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey, are replete with hospitality. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Love

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