Love is a series of battles in a devastating but continuing war. Love is a relationship between a student and a teacher. Sternberg, R. The nature of love. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology , 47 , — Real and ideal others in romantic relationships: Is four a crowd?
Journal of Personality and Social Psychology , 49 , — A triangular theory of love. Psychological Review , 93 , — Liking versus loving: A comparative evaluation of theories. Psychological Bulletin , , — Triangulating love. Barnes Eds. The triangle of love. New York: Basic. Love is a story. The General Psychologist , 30 1 , 1— Beall A.
The social construction of love. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships , 12 3 , — Love as a story. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships , 12 4 , — Love stories. Personal Relationships , 3 , — Barnes, M.
A hierarchical model of love and its prediction of satisfaction in close relationships. Hojjat Eds. Satisfaction in close relationships pp. Physical intimacy is characterized by friendship, platonic love, romantic love, or sexual activity. While there are several different types of intimacy, physical intimacy is only one of those. It is often not just about sex, but much more. Connection and communication with others around us build physical intimacy and most often, attraction to someone of the opposite sex is the key indicator of physical intimacy.
The inclusion of physical intimacy in human sexuality is another factor that requires consideration. It is reported that most people desire physical intimacy of some sort at least occasionally, being that it is a natural part of human sexuality. Because this is most often sensual touching of any sort, it requires an entrance into another's personal space, while it may be an emotional or sexual act anywhere from a hug to a kiss or sexual intercourse.
Emotional or sensual touching of this sort aids in the release of oxytocin, dopamine,and serotonin, which reduces stress. Also, without physical intimacy, there are increased feelings of loneliness or sadness. There are very basic definitions provided for the definition of physical intimacy, especially including the definitions of other words that are part of the physical acts of intimacy.
While many of the ones that are primary definitions are not actual sex, they are still touching and physical interaction. It could be some nouns or verbs, most commonly caress or fondle.
There are also the synonyms that describe these words including stroke, cuddle, fondle, embrace, hug, nuzzle, pet or pat. It seems to vary back and forth, especially since there can be the inclusion of physical and emotional intimacy as a part of an intimate relationship, making it not necessarily a feeling or action of its own. While the various definitions of physical intimacy seem to reference sexual actions or passionate interaction of some sort, that appears to be more specific of the word "physical.
Now, this may be as simple as comfort with personal affection or with public displays of affection because of the level of intimacy that has developed between two people. There is also the question of whether there is sex or sexual passion without emotion or love, and whether it can be maintained.
Interestingly enough, when looking for the definition of sexual passion, many of the same references as physical intimacy appeared in different dictionary locations. One additional mention is that of "affection," something that is of addition to the physical touching and intimacy that comes with the emotions being expressed.
While "affection" and "love" are not completely the same, this indicates that there may be something a bit more emotional in the passionate side of this word combination. People who are close and familiar are more comfortable entering each other's personal space and taking on physical contact. Depending on the relationship, public displays of affection may vary based upon the social norm in which they find themselves.
These displays can range from simple gestures like a kiss or hug to an embrace or holding hands. While this may be a simple greeting, there may be long-term contact or affectionate embrace maintained in the public space when these two people are quite comfortable with each other.
Then, there are methods of contact that are maintained in private in a more intimate relationship. As two people become closer to one another they are at ease and can display forms of affections when together including:. These events do not require sexual activity to have passion or intimacy, but this would likely indicate that it is not a sexually passionate relationship.
If two people are looking to maintain friendship it is more likely they will stick to a hug or kiss on the cheek to show care or affection that is not sexually passionate. Therefore, physical sexual intimacy can vary in the definition.
Some people are more sexually passionate than others and can bring that level of intimacy into a romantic relationship much more easily.
There is also the fact that each person sees sex in at least a slightly different manner, and it is common that men and women address sexual intimacy and passion differently.
Sex without love or intimacy is a question that exists at the core of any strong relationship. Since there is the value of sex between two people who have an intimate or loving relationship, there is also the importance of defining all different pieces of the relationship. General intimacy involves knowing someone deeply and the ability to feel completely open, free and honest with them. This is something that is commonly only felt or experienced with one person, as this close intimacy is too difficult to have with multiple people.
So, sex in a loving or intimate relationship tends to be the physical embodiment of those feelings. The ideal theory is that this physical intimacy is to be a loving connection between the two people in a relationship.
The two of them within a relationship are thus interconnected: physical intimacy builds sexual passion, and sexual passion builds sexual intimacy. There is the ability to separate sexual passion from physical intimacy as well. This is if sex is just a physical act, especially when it occurs outside of a relationship. Within a relationship, sex is the most intimate act, but there are different occasions when this act can occur. It can be a physical act that occurs without consent rape , an act that is paid for prostitution , or a simple physical exchange one-night stand.
Say that we consider the one-night stands that anyone takes on after a night of drinking or partying with friends. Any man or woman can enjoy a night of sex without love or intimacy, usually when there is physical attraction or the basic desire for the enjoyment of sexual intercourse. It is often a psychological question of the difference between these two, and the overall intimate and vulnerable act of offering yourself to another in sex, which would connect both sex and intimacy again.
Once the determination of sexual passion or physical intimacy is made, there then comes the question of sex or making love. With this having been a strong debate for long periods of time, there is the potential to understand that this is an independent decision to be made. Or at least this would be the decided term between the two partners who have established their intimate, sexual relationship.
Since no matter the term used, sex is always a physical act and can be done without intimacy. It tends to be based on chemical attraction and an image of what one thinks the other is all about. Fatuous Love : However, some people who have a strong physical attraction push for commitment early in the relationship. Passion and commitment are aspects of fatuous love. There is no intimacy and the commitment is premature. Partners rarely talk seriously or share their ideas.
They focus on their intense physical attraction and yet one, or both, is also talking of making a lasting commitment. Sometimes this is out of a sense of insecurity and a desire to make sure the partner is locked into the relationship. Empty Love : This type of love may be found later in a relationship or in a relationship that was formed to meet needs other than intimacy or passion money, childrearing, status. Here the partners are committed to staying in the relationship for the children, because of a religious conviction, or because there are no alternatives perhaps , but do not share ideas or feelings with each other and have no physical attraction for one another.
Romantic Love : Intimacy and passion are components of romantic love, but there is no commitment. This may be true because they are not in a position to make such commitments or because they are looking for passion and closeness and are afraid it will die out if they commit to one another and start to focus on other kinds of obligations.
Companionate Love : Intimacy and commitment are the hallmarks of companionate love. Partners love and respect one another and they are committed to staying together. But their physical attraction may have never been strong or may have just died out. Nevertheless, partners are good friends committed to one another. Consummate Love : Intimacy, passion, and commitment are present in consummate love.
This is often the ideal type of love. The couple shares passion; the spark has not died, and the closeness is there. They feel like best friends as well as lovers and they are committed to staying together. Lee offers a theory of love styles or types of lovers derived from an analysis of writings about love through the centuries. As you read these, think about how these styles might become part of the types of love described above.
Pragma is a style of love that emphasizes the practical aspects of love. The pragmatic lover considers compatibility and the sensibility of their choice of partners. This lover will be concerned with goals in life, status, family reputation, attitudes about parenting, career issues and other practical concerns. Mania is a style of love characterized by volatility, insecurity, and possessiveness. This lover gets highly upset during arguments or breakups, may have trouble sleeping when in love, and feels emotions very intensely.
Agape is an altruistic, selfless love. Liking versus loving: A comparative evaluation of theories. Psychological Bulletin. Cambridge University Press; Sternberg R. Psychol Rev. Your Privacy Rights.
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