|
Home::Technology & Science
VALENTINE'S DAY: WHAT'S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT?
Author : Pauline Wallin, Ph.D.
VALENTINE'S DAY: WHAT'S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT?
By Pauline Wallin, Ph.D.
Author, "Taming Your Inner Brat: A Guide for Transforming Self-defeating Behavior"
The perfect card, the perfect gift, the perfect date . . . Isn't there enough pressure in relationships without having to live up to some romantic ideal on Valentine's Day?
This is not how the celebration of February 14 started out. Its origins stem from Pagan and Christian history. Back then there were feasts celebrating fertility, and later there was recognition of St. Valentine (whose actual existence is questioned by some experts) who secretly performed marriage ceremonies for soldiers when the emperor had forbidden it. But there were no TV commercials depicting models with perfect bodies and perfect teeth giving each other chocolates and back rubs. Valentine's Day back then was not a test of how good a lover you were.
Modern relationships are difficult enough without having to stage a major performance on a designated day. Men agonize over the greeting card racks, hoping that they can choose a card that is not too funny, not too mushy. And the gift: how will she interpret it? If I buy her chocolates will she think I want her to get fat? If I don't buy her chocolates will she think I assume she is fat? Is the gift too extravagant? Is it too impersonal? Are roses too predictable?
This is not what love is all about. Love is much more complex than flowers and chocolates. Social psychologists have been studying interpersonal attraction and love for almost four decades, and they still haven't figured it out completely. What is known, however, is that love relationships are multi dimensional. Sexual attraction, or what some people call "chemistry" is only one ingredient of a love relationship, and often not even the most important one.
Distinctions have been made between passionate love and companionate love. Passionate love is an intense longing for the other person. It is accompanied by extreme feelings: ecstasy when things are going well, and despair when things are rocky. Passionate love is also characterized by physical sensations, such as rapid heartbeat and "butterflies" in the stomach.
Companionate love does not have the fire and the heat that passionate love does, but it can more than compensate in the form of closeness, trust and affection. Furthermore it lasts much longer than passionate love, which subsides relatively quickly.
Another way of defining love is in terms of three components: passion, commitment and intimacy. These interact with one another in various combinations, so that no two relationships are alike.
Long-term satisfaction in relationships does not depend on material wealth or success. Nor does it depend on physical attractiveness. A recent study of middle-aged college graduates indicated that good looking people, on average, were no more satisfied with their marriages or with their lives, than were plainer people.
So what does constitute long-term contentment in relationships? Psychologists have found that a feeling of equity is important. That is, the partners feel they are each getting about as much as they're giving. Not that they keep score, but over the long run things even out. This is similar to just being good friends to one another, supporting one another, laughing at each other's jokes even though you've heard them dozens of times. Another ingredient in long-term relationships is investment. This refers to material possessions, time and emotional investment. The greater the investment, the more likely the couple will stay together.
So what does all this have to do with Valentine's Day? If you wish, buy that card or those flowers, but keep in mind that this is not a maker or breaker of a relationship. Better yet, show your partner love and consideration on the other 364 days in the year. It will make a greater impact than doing so according to the calendar.
Pauline Wallin, Ph.D. is a psychologist in Camp Hill, PA, and author of "Taming Your Inner Brat: A Guide for Transforming Self-defeating
Behavior" (Beyond Words Publishing, 2001)
Visit http://www.innerbrat.com" target="_blank">http://www.innerbrat.com for more information, and subscribe to her free, monthly Inner Brat Newsletter.
Spam emails More free articles Related articles
|
More related feeds |
finally done
not staring but stealing glances eyes Have you recieved a love note?: no Have you written a love note?: no but gave away a rose on Valentines day Have you given that person the love note?: no Have you gotten a reward?: uhm not really ..."Bring Me to Life" Chapter 3~Light in Paradise
One cool February day, he was finding his way to that spot at lunch, when Alice interrupted. “What are you two lovebirds doing Saturday?” “What?” She pulled me out of my Edward love fog. “Saturday. You know for Valentine's day.” ... Marci
On the year anniversary of our first encounter, I was asked whether I knew what day it was. It took me a while (and probably a hint or two) but eventually I realised. I think the excuse that time was “for old time’s sake” or similar, ... :'[
After I come home, the first thing I do is feed the cat. I forgot when I first had the cat. Probably since last year's Valentine's Day. At that time, I was like an abandoned cat, with eyes filled with despair. Cats don't cry, I do. ... My Review of Fall-Winter SU Catalog
I LOVE that sentiment and have to have it. It is so versatile. This is supposed to be a Valentine's Day set and does have that sentiment, but the other sentiments can be used for many other occasions. Plus, the tic tac toe image can be ... the story so far...
I got small film roles, then bigger ones. In 2006, I starred in "The Salt Flats." That's where I met Ruth. We fell in love. Every Valentine's Day she sent me roses and, oh god, we had so much. Those were the best three years of my life. ... MEME. :D
there's no reason. i just love hyoutei :D 63- Oshitari- "Got any habits?" daydreams 64- Hiyoshi- "Do you have a favorite season? Any reason why?" winter. simply because there's no snow in my country. i want to know what it's like -__- ... Self-Guided Architecture Tour In Review
That slab can be convenient as well, though, as it is often used for such things as a large heart made out of red lights on Valentine's Day, the kind of thing I personally think lends charm to the skyline and which cannot really be done ... september 5
a few weeks later on february 14th, valentine's day...i got a cold. a nasty cold. i went to the doctor wondering what can i take to ease my symptoms but that are safe for my baby? my everything revolved around my baby. we discussed ... 100 things about me you never needed to know.
Lots of people I love have died this month. And Valentines day is also during that month. I've never had a good Valentines day experience. This past year, my now ex-boyfriend didn't send or do anything for me on the 14th (he lived in ...
|
|
|
