Most people have the joy of falling in love at least once in their life. This contributes not only to our happiness, but also to our identity development and personality integration.
As the early stages of lust, and physical attraction, turn to a desire for a close bond involving your mind and heart, this is when the act of falling in love is being experienced. According to Ancient Greeks love is the dualism of body and soul. As this happens we become more romantic and publically affectionate.
Love has its highs and lows, especially at the most immature stage; this is due to both people become increasingly emotionally dependent on each other. Issues tend to arise concerning HOW to love each other and how to be loveable. For men, love is sought through gaining power, wealth and success, and for women it is sought by being attractive, having a good body and dressing well. Both sexes also look at their potential partners friends, popularity, sex appeal and influence (whether they are socially desirable and valuable) when weighing up commitment.
However as love develops into a more mature love this encourages individuality, integrity, responsibility and care of each other in the exclusive union of love. Maslow (1968) wrote of b-love (being love), which is an unselfish love, and d-love (deficiency love), which is a selfish and strong love. Many who are in love say that it is a combination of b-love and d-love, which binds them together.
There must be consistent rewards that go both ways, for love to succeed. So if your partner is worth it, and you want the mature commitment maintain your bind by being caring! And make sure your having fun…Happy dating!
