Although there is no single, clear definition of love, we can generally describe love in terms of emotional responses. There are four major categories of theories of love. Each category emphasizes an essential characteristic of love. The first category focuses on the nature of love as a state of being, with its evaluative aspects. The second category focuses on the relationship between two people.
Despite the ambiguity inherent in these categories, both views are consistent with a central theme: love is an expression of creativity, not a response to antecedent value. As such, any account of love that understands evaluation as a matter of appraisal misses something fundamental. Moreover, it is not clear how the experience of love is justified.
Some Western authorities have attempted to break down the concept of love into its narcissistic and altruistic components. Theorist Scott Peck has studied the distinction between love and evil and argues that love is a combination of altruism, activity, and concern for spiritual growth. In his study, Peck concluded that “love is a complex process.”
Love affects how people perceive themselves and how they act in everyday life. While we’re in love, we may feel more passionate about our partner and may want to do anything for them. For example, we may try new things that we previously didn’t enjoy. It’s great to try new things when you fall in love, but if your partner is very particular about something, you may feel pressured to conform to their interests.