Love is an experience that every human being on the planet has at one time or another. It is not only a part of the fabric of all human relationships but also pervades the lives of all living beings, including plants and animals. It is a profoundly powerful and complex emotion that is often misunderstood. Throughout history, philosophers and religious figures have speculated about its nature. In the 20th century, psychology studied it and other sciences such as anthropology and biology contributed to our understanding of it.
Researchers today still disagree about what love is, though. Some believe it is a primary emotion, like happiness or anger, while others view it as a complex emotion that derives from a mix of different emotions.
Some scholars believe that there are three primary and three secondary love styles, corresponding to the colors on a traditional color wheel. They include naive love, storge, and mature love. Naive love is based on a sense of infatuation that creates strong feelings of attraction and desire to be with the person you love. It can quickly turn into a sense of attachment and intense intimacy, but is usually short-lived. People high on naive love seek to make their loved one happy and are willing to take risks to do so. This can be toxic because it places expectations on the other person and ties your happiness to theirs.
Storge is a deeper and more mature love that includes the feelings of naive love, along with a feeling of loyalty and stability. People in storge love appreciate their partners for their personalities, work ethic, and quirks, as well as for their physical attributes. They don’t just want their partners to be happy, they also want them to grow and thrive.