What is love? This question has been raised by philosophers and has been the subject of scientific and philosophical research for many years. And today, did you know? We count 41 different types of love. Do you want to know more? It’s simple! Read this very rich article.
On the one hand, we note the 7 different types of love, according to ancient Greece. In ancient Greece, 7 words were available, each relating to a different type of love: from physical love (eros) to purely spiritual love (agape). Here are 7 different types of love according to the ancient Greeks.
On the other hand, psychologists have also identified 7 types of love, and few people manage to reach the seventh! Indeed, the American psychologist Robert Sternberg developed the triangular model: the theory of the three pillars of love in the 1980s, which includes intimacy, passion, and commitment. According to him, it is precisely in these three points that lie the wonderful feeling which speaks in thousands of songs, books, movies, or magazines. Through his theory, Sternberg has brought out 7 types of love. […]
However, in addition to these two main types of love, we have 27 other forms or different types of love.
Thus, in this article, discover all the types of love that we find in the world, terms used to describe love in ancient Greece to modern types of love.
In total, we offer 14 different types of love and 28 forms of love: in short 41 types and forms of love that you will probably experience during your life!
There are probably as many different types of love as there are types of people in the world. Here is a list of these types of love and their meaning.
Let’s start with those (7) of ancient Greece, then the 7 types of love according to psychologists, and finally the 27 other forms of love.
*** The 7 Different Types of Love, According to Ancient Greece
In ancient Greece, 7 words were available, each relating to a different type of love: from physical love (eros) to purely spiritual love (agape). Here are 7 different types of love according to the ancient Greeks.
1. Eros: The Love of the Body
Eros is the Greek God of love and desire. He was shooting arrows of gold, in the hearts of mortals and immortals. The Greeks were terrified by this kind of love, deemed dangerous and likely to cause them problems. Eros refers to divine beauty and desire. Eros love is born mainly of sexual attraction and is also the origin of the term “erotic”.
Example of love eros: two people who, from the first meeting, feel an attraction and desire for each other.
2. Philia: The Love of the Spirit
Also known as brotherly love, philia refers to sincere and platonic love. The type of love one feels for one’s brother, sister, or dear friend. It was valued more than eros. Philia exists when a person shares similar values and temperament with another, and their feelings are reciprocal.
Example of love philia: two friends who talk about their mutual and deep understanding; who feel that these feelings of security and freedom allow them to feel comfortable and protected.
3. Ludus: Mischievous Love
Ludus refers to a charming and teasing love, a love that is accompanied by dances and laughter. It is a childish and light love. If we think about it, the current generation loves “the Ludus way” more than any other.
Example of love Ludus: modern love at its peak. The Ludus love can be perfectly understood thanks to the image of two people who simply want to have fun together, without the need for security or depth.
4. Pragma: the Old Love
The eternal love that develops over time within a married couple. Pragma was the noblest form of love; the true commitment that comes from understanding, compromise, and tolerance. It is a pragmatic love and it is for this reason that it is referred to through the terms “to remain in love” rather than “to fall in love”; because it develops over time and requires a deep understanding, between lovers united for many years.
Example of love pragma: think of your grandparents, all they have endured, and the fact that they have always made the choice to stay together.
5. Agapê: The Love of the Soul
Agape love is selfless love, the love of humanity. It is the form of love closest to unconditional love. He who is given without ever expecting anything in return and who expresses himself in charitable acts. It is compassionate love, the one that impels us to be supportive, to help, and to bond with strangers. The world needs agape.
Example of agape love: those people in your life who always give to others and expect nothing in return. It is the way in which they show their love and from which they derive energy from that one. By giving everything they have and all that they have to those around them, they find beauty in life.
6. Philautie: Self-Love
The ancient Greeks divided love Philautie into two sub-categories: one that is pure selfishness and seeking pleasure, fame, and fortune (which often leads to narcissism) and the other that refers to love healthy that we carry ourselves. Philanthropic love is essential to any relationship. We can only love others if we love ourselves and we can only care for others if we take care of ourselves.
Example of Philanthropic Love: Selfish love is the type of love you take, without giving anything back – it is someone who only uses others to move on without his life. Think about the pushers of this world … In parallel, the other type of philanthropic love, positive this one is found in a united couple. Everyone makes a living but they move forward together, support each other and pull themselves up.
7. Storgê: Family Love
Storgê refers to the love that parents naturally feel for their children. It is based on spontaneous feelings and innate love. Storgê is a type of love that knows forgiveness, acceptance, and sacrifice. It is the one that allows us to feel safe, protected, and comfortable.
Example of love storgê: think of the love that your mother or your best friend gives you. It is anchored in friendship and understanding, but it also assumes a deep emotional connection.
*** 7 Different Types of Love, According to Psychologists
8. the Craze
This is the time when people have known each other only recently, but are attracted to each other. Often in this kind of couple, the man and the woman have no idea what they have in common, but they stay together.
According to psychologists, this craze can turn into something more complete over time, but this is not necessarily the case. Many couples do not see their relationship develop with this kind of love. The craze = passion only.
9. Platonic Love
In this kind of relationship, you can really be yourself. Usually, people in such a couple share similar hobbies, as well as a common vision of life and a sense of mutual understanding. Psychologists agree that such intimacy without passion and commitment will lead to a beautiful friendship rather than a romantic love. Platonic Love = Intimacy only
10. Empty Love
Such couples have only commitment, but neither intimacy nor passion. Often, such relationships occur after a great passionate love, and sometimes the opposite happens, people who have felt an empty love change to more passionate feelings. Empty love = commitment only
11. the Smug Love
This includes commitment and passion. This is the case when people really feel passionate and are willing to follow traditions such as marriage, commitment, and compromise, but they do not really have intimacy.
Psychologists believe that such couples can live together for a long time, but it is difficult to qualify them as happy people. Blissful love = commitment + passion
12. Romantic Love
This love includes passion and intimacy. People love each other and feel comfortable with their half, but they are not ready to engage seriously. Such relationships often do not reach the stage of life together or marriage. Romantic love = passion + intimacy.
13. Sociable Love
Sociable love consists of commitment and intimacy. Such relationships are much stronger compared to normal friendships, and true affection develops between the two. But it’s rather modest because, in such love, there is no passion. Psychologists believe that the kind of relationship that results can arise after many years of dating and/or marriage. Sociable love = intimacy + commitment
14. Love Consumed
This love consists of 3 pillars: passion, intimacy, and commitment. Of course, they may not be proportional, but it is important that they are. Such relationships do not happen so often, but if people can build them, then they really love each other! It is likely that these couples will live together and enjoy their marriage throughout life. Consumed love = passion + intimacy + commitment).
According to psychologists, consummated love is complete love. We think, that with time, the feelings change, and if you have not yet reached the seventh type of love [according to the psychologists, the consummate love], it is possible that your partner and you, have to need more time for this.
*** the Other 27 Different Types of Love
15. New Love
Ah, this love is so light. We do not even realize that we love. It is moreover that we “like” because it is difficult to admit that it is really loved. It’s not a deep love, but rather a “remember me and most importantly, do not get hit by a truck! “. But nevertheless, it’s both a lot of stress and a lot of fun. It’s sad because it can disappear in an instant, while we hope it will last. It’s the most endearing love, after the love that older people share and that I hope to know one day too.
16. the Routine Love
You’ve been dating for a while and you love each other. It is a fact. This person brings you a form of comfort. The routine is perceived negatively, wrongly. It’s simplicity. There are no doubts. It’s useless to hide one’s feelings from the other and that’s great. He is here for you and you are here for him. It’s a real comfort.
17. Love
You like the idea of the other. You desire it terribly, but apart from that, there is no real connection. This type of love is often fleeting, like the passing of a tornado. You really want to be part of this person’s life, but there’s not much going on between you, is there? You like the idea of being with this person and you want to be with her. But once you get to that point, you realize you’re not meant to be together. This type of love is the one most likely to break your heart.
18. Love-Friendship
You want to love this friend, but you are not there. You love them, but without really loving them. It’s just not for you. You would go well together, but it does not crack for you and that is why you are only friends. And it does not matter. You give each other a different type of support, which you would not have in a romantic relationship.
19. Simulated Love
Would you like it to work? But guess what? This is not the case. So, you force yourself to believe that this person is “good enough” for you and that you are “good enough” for him. So, you live according to the principles that you have learned child and that there are things to do and others to do in your love life – falling in love, getting married, buying a house, having children, etc… But this may not be the right person. No, cut the bridges and find yourself a “love made to last”.
20. the “Big” Love
It’s him. Pure and simple. You may need time to do it, but it will be him. Maybe you will separate, you will get together again, you will separate again and so on … But in the end, you will realize that there is no one else like him on earth. You would give everything to him. It’s so perfect that you hate it because you do not think one person will ever make you feel like that.
21. the Love Made to Last
You are made to be together. You will never give up on that. You are partners in the face of life. You could see him doing food poisoning and still want to make love to him (a little later anyway). You have experienced things, whether it’s losing a job, having a child, buying a house, or losing a parent … And he was there. He supported you all the way. You could not imagine life without him. I like to think that this step is the one that comes right after “great love” because it is an even deeper love.
22. Tragic Love
It ended and it should not have. It is without return. This type of love is deeply rooted in your soul and it travels through your body, but you will eventually heal. You will always have reminiscences of this love, but it will never be the same again. And you know it. Even if you get back together, your love would be different. And everyone knows it. Whatever you do or who you love then you will always remember that person. And maybe in another life, you will finally be together.
23. the Love of Your Parents
This love has two dimensions: the love of your parents for you, whatever you do, and the love your parents feel for each other. And this is the last one I’m going to talk about. Their love is not always the most beautiful. They fought. They reconciled with a hug. They learned to cross together in their twenties, thirties, forties, and so on … And you witnessed that. It is they who have most impacted your vision of love. Maybe that will have disturbed you, maybe not. But in any case, it will have allowed you to know what love you are looking for, the same or one that is completely different.
24. Unhealthy Love
We all have an ex like that … He cannot have you then, he wants you. He ends up having you and finally, he does not want you anymore. It’s a vicious circle. But you hold on to him because, for you, it’s deeper than that. After all, you have known other different types of love before. You have known a new love, a routine love, or something else. But it’s over, you’re still holding on to the other guy, and you know there will be nothing left between you. Point. You are toxic to each other.
25. the Love of the Elderly
The most endearing love of all, without a doubt. Who has not already had tears in their eyes while watching two old people hold hands? They went through everything. All the darker sides of a relationship and still held. It’s more of a partnership, a companionship than anything else. They learned forgiveness, strength, and perseverance through the other. It’s a big love. It’s also a tragic love because there is one who will leave before the other, but none of them would want someone else by his side.
26. the Cow Love
It is a rigid love where you have to be accountable and assume your responsibilities.
27. Unrequited Love
This is a relationship in which one of the partners lacks love. In other words, unrequited love is when someone loves and the other does not. As Krizzia Paolyn poetically wrote, unrequited love is “an impossible love because the person you love does not love you in return”.
28. Obsessive Love
It is a type of dangerous love, which often leads to possessiveness and sometimes to physical violence. For obsessive lovers, love is crazy. This type of love is always called love “madness”.
29. the Forbidden Love
These are the damned lovers, Romeo and Juliet. This love is almost always tragic or it involves heavy family and/or cultural consequences. For those who choose to love someone whom they do not have the right to be in love with, this love is strong. They are deeply connected to their partner.
30. One-Way Love
It is different from unrequited love. When you have a one-way relationship, two people have engaged in a relationship, but one partner is more involved than the other, and the one who does the least seems to be trying to take advantage of it.
31. Constructive Love
This kind of love makes us grow. This is the type of love that we share with our best friend or with a partner who wants to continually help us to excel. This love reminds us of order, without ever judging us – it helps us to become the best version of ourselves possible.
32. Permissive Love
It is a love that causes someone to turn a blind eye to things that his partner has to work on. It is often a family love that will evolve as soon as the situation requires. Think of a mother who gives money to her son, when she knows he will misuse it. Or your father telling you “if that’s what makes you happy,” when he knows you’re doing something wrong.
33. Competitive Love
This love exists between two very motivated people and can express itself in two previous ways. On the negative side, it’s when two people are unable to be happy with each other’s success – they are constantly competing. On the positive side, it’s when two people are competitive, but support each other and push each other to succeed – they are motivated to become better for each other.
34. Bitter Love
It’s a kind of love that’s born in a relationship if one of the partners has had to give up a dream, a career, or something else. Over time, he ends up blaming his partner and feels like he has no reason to live outside his relationship.
35. the Eternal Love
It’s the kind of love that lasts no matter what. The distance and the years can intervene, but when these two are seen, the feelings flock. They are always linked, even when they are no longer physically.
36. Artistic Love
This is an artist/muse relationship. It is a love that arises between an artist and the person who inspires him the most. It is a love that is often tumultuous and sometimes even one-way or short-lived if the artist finds another muse.
37. the Distant Love
It’s the kind of love that comes from a distance. When we love someone but we do nothing to make it happen. And you do not know much about the other – you just have strong feelings and prefer to cherish it at a distance rather than breaking the fantasy.
38. Exploratory Love
It’s the kind of love that makes you shudder, like when you arrive in a new city or a new country and have that powerful feeling of being at home. You may not have been born here, but you know right away that you are at home.
39. Passenger Love
This is the kind of love that creeps into you suddenly; the kind of love that takes you, while you are sitting with a friend and the silence is done. You look at it and you are filled with happiness and gratitude for it. You feel lucky to have it in your life.
40. the Changing Love
He who acts as a switch. One moment, you are totally in love with someone. But as soon as he does something that hurts you or acts like a kills-love, your feelings fly away. It’s almost like he’s pushing you away and you’re unable to stay with him.
41. the Curious Love
This kind of love is never strong at first. You are taken from a sweet curiosity that bubbles in you. You do not like this person, but you know that you will eventually get there. You know he would treat you the way you deserve.
Well, here we have gone through the 41 types or forms of love. What are your experiences: which one have you experienced? Thank you for sharing this with us! Thank you!