Chapter 6 Love

Topics to Cover What is love? Is love universal? Biological aspects of love The social contexts of love Howe, Marriages & Families in the 21st Century 2e. SAGE Publishing, 2018.

Identify various definitions of love and discuss three key theories that categorize types of love. What is love? Howe, Marriages & Families in the 21st Century 2e. SAGE Publishing, 2018.

Various Definitions of Love What is love? Various Definitions of Love “Physiological reaction that engenders proximity seeking behavior.” “Search for friendship, beauty, and spiritual connection.” In this text: “Subjective feeling of emotional connection with another person, often accompanied by intense desire to be near, care for, protect, or share one’s life with that person.” Howe, Marriages & Families in the 21st Century 2e. SAGE Publishing, 2018.

Passionate Love Versus Companionate Love What is love? Passionate Love Versus Companionate Love Passion and romance characterize relationships early on Affiliation, deep respect, and “best friendship” evolve over time Passion is a predictor of relationship satisfaction Intimacy Howe, Marriages & Families in the 21st Century 2e. SAGE Publishing, 2018.

Sternberg’s Triangular Theory What is love? Sternberg’s Triangular Theory Passion Commitment Intimacy Infatuation = passion only Empty love = commitment only Romantic love = passion + intimacy Consummate love = passion + intimacy + commitment Love stories Howe, Marriages & Families in the 21st Century 2e. SAGE Publishing, 2018.

Lee’s Styles of Love Eros: intense intimacy and commitment What is love? Lee’s Styles of Love Eros: intense intimacy and commitment Ludus: treated like a game Storge: egalitarian, best friends Pragma: rational choice Mania: obsessive and insecure Agape: complete devotion Howe, Marriages & Families in the 21st Century 2e. SAGE Publishing, 2018.

Self-Expansion Theory What is love? Self-Expansion Theory Focus on true love Partners complete one another Each partner a better person because of love Like Agape and consummate love Valued in both western and eastern ideologies Howe, Marriages & Families in the 21st Century 2e. SAGE Publishing, 2018.

Discuss the cultural and historical trends around the conceptualization of love. Is love Universal? Howe, Marriages & Families in the 21st Century 2e. SAGE Publishing, 2018.

Is love universal? Cultural Variations Feelings of romantic love are ubiquitous around the world Importance placed on romantic love varies Most important to Western cultures Elsewhere, not a valid reason to marry Too much detracts from love of family and God Extended family 5 Romantic love 6 Howe, Marriages & Families in the 21st Century 2e. SAGE Publishing, 2018.

Love Historically Marriage created to bind two families together Is love universal? Love Historically Marriage created to bind two families together Mutual political and/or financial benefit Love not expected in marriage Greek and Roman cultures Love between men morally superior Christianity and Love Concubines and male escorts Enlightenment period: individual pleasure United States and the “pursuit of happiness” Industrial Revolution Emerging middle class Focus on individual choice and power balance between men and women Feminized Love Howe, Marriages & Families in the 21st Century 2e. SAGE Publishing, 2018.

Gender Issues Men Women Androgynous Love Polyamory Love means action Is love universal? Gender Issues Men Love means action Affection through teasing Women Show love through talking and feelings Intimate sharing, sworn confidences Viewed as superior to the way men love Androgynous Love Working poor versus middle class Polyamory Howe, Marriages & Families in the 21st Century 2e. SAGE Publishing, 2018.

Biological aspects of love Explain the basic biochemistry underlying love relationships over time. Biological aspects of love Howe, Marriages & Families in the 21st Century 2e. SAGE Publishing, 2018.

Biological aspects of love The Love Drugs Connections with other critical to health and survival of humans and all mammals Oxytocin and vasopressin Howe, Marriages & Families in the 21st Century 2e. SAGE Publishing, 2018.

The Brain and Relationships Biological aspects of love The Brain and Relationships The triune brain (three key levels) Brain stem Limbic brain Shaped by families Dysregulation has profound effects Neocortex Use language to express limbic brain Howe, Marriages & Families in the 21st Century 2e. SAGE Publishing, 2018.

Neurochemistry and the Development of Love Biological aspects of love Neurochemistry and the Development of Love Philematology When kissing, cortisol 6 oxytocin 5 Limbic coregulation The roles of dopamine and serotonin Does love make us mad? People in love and obsessive-compulsive disorder Neurotransmitter similarities Howe, Marriages & Families in the 21st Century 2e. SAGE Publishing, 2018.

The social contexts of love Discuss the interpersonal and social contexts of love and related therapeutic procedures for improving love relationships. The social contexts of love Howe, Marriages & Families in the 21st Century 2e. SAGE Publishing, 2018.

Love and Attachment Theory The social contexts of love Love and Attachment Theory Baby love Harlow’s monkey studies Babies attach because of comfort, touch, and protection Human infants use caregivers as secure base Dysregulation results when attachment is thwarted Development of internal working models Adult attachment Secure versus insecure We can modify our mate’s limbic system and attachment style Affective reactivity Howe, Marriages & Families in the 21st Century 2e. SAGE Publishing, 2018.

Macrosystem Forces Economics Cultural forces The social contexts of love Macrosystem Forces Economics Downturns lead more people to seek love More wives outearning husbands Cultural forces Most people experience romantic love, but its expression, importance, and purpose differ Illouz’s four love rituals Temporal Emotional Spatial Artifactual Howe, Marriages & Families in the 21st Century 2e. SAGE Publishing, 2018.

Professional Help for Enhancing Love The social contexts of love Professional Help for Enhancing Love Failure to resolve struggles for identity and deeper emotional wounds Emotion-focused couples therapy Developing a sense of empathy Howe, Marriages & Families in the 21st Century 2e. SAGE Publishing, 2018.

Chapter Summary Identify various definitions of love and discuss three key theories that categorize types of love. Discuss the cultural and historic trends around the conceptualization of love. Explain the basic biochemistry underlying love relationships over time. Discuss the interpersonal and social contexts of love and related therapeutic procedures for improving love relationships. Howe, Marriages & Families in the 21st Century 2e. SAGE Publishing, 2018.

Open-access student resources Mobile-friendly quizzes Mobile-friendly eFlashcards Learning objective summaries Video and multimedia resources SAGE journal articles Checklist action plan edge.sagepub.com/howem&f2e Howe, Marriages & Families in the 21st Century 2e. SAGE Publishing, 2018.