Love is an incredibly complex emotion and one that can have different meanings for different people. It is often used to refer to a romantic attachment between two individuals but can also be used to describe a close friendship, the feeling of affection for an animal or the desire to promote well-being on a large scale. Love is difficult to define because it can be a mix of many emotions, including lust, attraction, loyalty and companionship. But understanding what love is can be a helpful tool in building and maintaining healthy relationships.
The term “love” has been described in a variety of ways: romantic, unconditional, selfless and even mystical. Some scientists and psychologists view it as a mammalian drive, similar to hunger or thirst, triggered by hormones such as oxytocin and neurotrophins. Others see it as a more social and cultural phenomenon influenced by a variety of factors, such as genes, personality traits and past relationship experiences.
Although there are different kinds of love, the most common is affection and a desire to be close to someone. It can be the love that parents feel for their children or a partner’s love for their spouse. It can also be the love of a friend or a family member for an animal, such as a cat or dog. The Bible references several types of love: agape, eros, philia and brotherly love (Hebrew: ahabah; Greek: phileo).
A key to defining what love is involves determining what it is not. As a general positive sentiment, it can be contrasted with hate or neutral apathy. As a particular interpersonal attachment, it can be distinguished from lust or sexual attraction, which is more focused on physical pleasure and is usually accompanied by physiological arousal. It can also be differentiated from companionate or platonic love, which is more of a mutual caring and respect between friends or acquaintances without the need for a romantic attachment.
Some researchers have looked at the biological underpinnings of love by examining brain activity during a period of intense romantic passion. They found that those who were in the throes of romance experienced a surge of activity in the caudate nucleus, an area of the brain involved in reward and pleasure processing, and in an ancient part of the limbic system known as the ventral tegmental area, or VTA. The VTA is similar to the brain areas activated by cocaine use, which may explain why people experience a rush of euphoria when they fall in love.
A practical definition of love can be found in the teachings of the Christian faith. Thomas Aquinas defined love as a “practice of will” whereby we seek to promote the well-being of others, even our enemies. This type of love is often exemplified by the acts of selflessness and devotion that have made renowned individuals, such as Martin Luther King Jr., Mahatma Gandhi, Mother Teresa and Oprah Winfrey, famous for their dedication to helping others.