Love is a term often used to describe some type of attachment, like the love between a parent and child or between friends. However, there are many different ways to understand the concept of love. Some theories suggest that it is simply a biological phenomenon, similar to hunger or thirst. Others believe that it is a complex mix of emotions and social influences. In either case, it is impossible to fully define love.
Biologically, some people think that love is merely a mating instinct, triggered by hormones such as oxytocin and neurotrophins, or by pheromones. Others suggest that it is more of a mental construct, influenced by the way we think about love and our conceptions of other people. It is also influenced by the person’s ability to fulfill needs for companionship, sexual attraction and attachment. Finally, it is influenced by how a potential union satisfies general social norms and the acceptance of the union within a person’s social network.
A more traditional view of love is that it is a combination of companionate and passionate love. The companionate component is a feeling of trust and security. The passionate component involves feelings of attraction and arousal, which can be fueled by the way someone looks or the quality of their personality, such as a wicked sense of humor or beautiful grin.
Another form of love is benevolent love, which is a desire to help reduce the suffering of other people. This is the kind of love that parents feel for their children, and it often requires sacrifice. The Hindu religion defines this type of love as bhakti, and it is manifested in devotion and worship of the divine.