Understanding the Nature of Love
Throughout history, philosophers, writers and poets have explored the nature of love. In the 20th century, psychologists joined the discussion, studying the phenomenon with scientific methods. Today, researchers come at the subject from a variety of perspectives and have broadened the definition of love beyond romantic relationships to include friendships, family ties and compassion for strangers or civic institutions. While scientists and philosophers disagree about the exact meaning of the word, most agree that love is more than just a fleeting emotion.
Unlike other emotions, love is often harder to pin down. Some think it is a fundamental human drive or an essential physiological process, while others distinguish it as a secondary emotion resulting from a combination of primary feelings. Psychologist Zick Rubin explains that romantic love is made up of three elements: attraction, comfort and trust. He defines “attraction” as the desire to be with a person and the feeling of excitement and pleasure when around them. He argues that romantic love can be triggered by proximity, physical closeness, thoughts of the person and even anticipation of interacting with them. Affection is the fondness or warm regard that we feel for someone based on their personality, character, behavior and accomplishments. Trust and commitment are the final components of romantic love. In new relationships, this entails the decision that you love someone and, in long-term relationships, the promise to maintain that love.
While love can be influenced by proximity, social influences and feelings of affection, the most important factor in determining whether it is genuine or not is how the individual feels about themselves. People who choose to fall in love with someone else may be driven by the need for a sense of belonging and security, or they might want a partner who will support their personal goals and aspirations. Other people might be motivated by a desire to overcome their deepest fears or the need to achieve dreams they never thought possible.
A lot of people who claim to be in love are often misguided. Some have a difficult time accepting the idea that they can be loved and choose to believe that it is in their best interest to continue pursuing a relationship that does not make them happy. Others are unable to sustain a healthy, mutually satisfying relationship because they cannot reconcile their feelings of attraction with the realities of their situation. Neither of these scenarios is necessarily right or wrong, but they are different from genuine love, which is about giving up the struggle and embracing the person you truly are.
If you’re writing a paper about love, start by brainstorming ideas and experiences. Then, create an outline to structure your thoughts coherently. Draft your essay, focusing on conveying your reflections and emotions in an engaging manner. Revise your essay as needed and consider seeking feedback from others. Finally, proofread your work and print it out for final review. With practice, you will be able to write about love with skill and authenticity.