Question

According to your textbook, there are two types of love. Identify what those types of love are. Compare and contrast the two types of love. In your description, provide an example from either your own life or in the media that illustrates the two.

Answer 1

A popular psychologist by the name of Elaine Hatfield had described two types of romantic love, namely passionate and compassionate love. Compassionate love on one hand encompasses feelings of mutual love, respect, trust, and affection while passionate love involves intense feelings and attraction. Passionate love has been described as a longing for union with another. Reciprocated love here consists of fulfilment and ecstasy. Unrequited love (separation) is nothing but emptiness, void, anxiety and despair. In a long term relationship, usually compassionate love is developed even though initially passionate love took over. Timing, attachment styles, alignment and similarities between two partners is something that impacts the type of romantic love which is to culminate between them. For instance, in many films, couples are seen to be a passionate relationship especially in the recent cinema. Concepts like friends with benefits have been picked up by the media and portrayed on television. The same however is turned into serious long term relationships later as the proximity and level of familiarization, attachment and alignment between the partner enhances.