Love is a complex emotion, involving both feelings of deep affection and enactment. We often use the word love to describe the way we feel about someone, but it should be understood as an act. It is the human capacity to care for others and share their well-being. It is a natural, innate human response, and is a powerful motivator. Nonetheless, it is not a universal trait. There are psychological disorders related to love, and it is important to understand them before attempting to treat them.
Erotic love is a form of intense attachment and sexual pleasure, which can be expressed through physical attraction. However, it involves a high risk of emotional distance and game-playing. This kind of love is not likely to last, and advocates are usually comfortable ending relationships after a few weeks. Compassionate love is characterized by feelings of warmth and trust and is a more mature form of love. In these relationships, there is no need for the person to return the feelings.
The two main types of love are erotic and storge. Erotic love focuses on physical attraction, intimacy, and sex. The relationship between lovers who practice this style is not long-term and can be easily ended. In contrast, storge love is more mature and focuses on the shared interests of both partners and does not place much emphasis on physical attractiveness. People who engage in this type of love are not prone to committing and are usually not very committed.
Romantic and erotic love have distinct definitions. Erotic love emphasizes physical attraction and sex. However, the underlying relationship does not involve commitment, and advocates of erotic love often feel comfortable ending a relationship. Alternatively, storge love is considered a more mature type of love. In this kind of relationship, the two people share a common goal, and they have similar interests. Moreover, they are not needy nor dependent on their partners.
The different kinds of love differ in their focus. For example, erotic love focuses on physical attraction and sex. The relationship is not long-lasting, and the lovers are unlikely to commit to each other. In a similar situation, erotic love advocates are less likely to commit to their partner and are often comfortable breaking up. In contrast, storge love emphasizes common interests, open affection, and a healthy relationship.
The Greeks considered agape love to be the love of the gods. Unlike erotic, agape love is unconditional and never ends due to a person’s actions. The Greeks also believed that agape is a common characteristic of the world. For this reason, erotic loves are not regarded as mature forms of love. These relationships are more prone to breakups than storge.