In: Psychology
Choose at least three (3) different theoretical perspectives in personality psychology and discuss how the construct of love is conceptualized by each theoretical framework. How is love defined? What role does it have in development and the human condition? Which view appeals to you the most? Why?
The five major perspectives in psychology are Biological, Psychodynamic, Behavioral, Cognitive and Humanistic.
Each perspective provides its own view on the roots of why you do what you do.
Love according to three is defined as:
Biological: factors, such as the release of the hormones and neurotransmitters, are absolutely important in falling in love, and staying in love
Psychodynamic: Freud believed that love and sexuality were extremely intertwined, and beginning at a very young age, one experiences these feelings, although they are often misguided. Attraction/ biochemistry based on our "baggage". We get attracted to people likely to retraumatize us. Two types of relational trauma:
Type 1: Original relational trauma of early life
Type 2: Relational trauma of adult life.
Partner is chosen unconsciosly and relation is doomed to fail. Freud said we are doomed to repeat what we do not remember and in psychodynamic theory repititive process are called enactments.
Humanistic Love: Maslows third element in heirarchy of needs. Motivation at center. Need for love and belonging included here are the needs for friends and companions, a supportive family, identification with a group, and anintimate relationship. Needs for love and belonging are based on affection andlove. Everyone could not live without somebody else; they need to be lovedand to love the other. Everyone wants the other in their life to create their ownfamily. Needs for love and belongingness are fulfilled by interaction with their family, opposite gender, friendship, society, and religious group.
Love is defined differently in different aspects ranging from biological, psychodyanamic, humanistic, cognitive, spiritual etc.
I feel everything falls in vertical heirarchy of resolving self questions, being aware and being compassionate, loving playfully with awareness and not be caught in a loop of suffering and repitition.