When you think of love, you might imagine a sweet romance or a heartwarming family movie. You might also consider the selfless acts of people like Martin Luther King Jr., Gandhi, Maya Angelou, or Oprah Winfrey who have promoted well-being for others by putting their love into action. In reality, love is a complex concept that can take many different forms. It can be a feeling, a state of being, or even an ability. It’s a concept that is constantly being redefined.
Some scholars suggest that love can be classified into three parts: intimacy, passion, and commitment. The intimacy part refers to the emotional bond between two people in a relationship, such as the bond between a parent and a child. The passion part refers to the intense emotions of infatuation, obsession, and arousal that are experienced in romantic love. And the commitment part refers to the long-term nature of a relationship that is seen in a marriage or domestic partnership.
While some people feel all three aspects of love in a relationship, others experience varying degrees of each one. Some people might only feel intimacy or passion, while others have a stronger sense of commitment but not much passion. For example, someone might fall in love with their best friend and be devoted to them, but they might not experience the arousal of romantic love.
Other people might experience ludus love, which is a light and flirtatious form of love between friends. This kind of love is often associated with young people and can be a playful expression of affection.