Many sources identify four fundamental types of love, often rooted in ancient Greek classifications. These aren't mutually exclusive; relationships often blend multiple types.
The Four Types of Love:
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Storge (Affectionate Love): This is the love based on familiarity and deep bonding, often found in family relationships. Think of the comfortable love between parents and children, or siblings. It's characterized by loyalty, commitment, and a sense of shared history. This is the empathy bond as described in Wikipedia's entry on The Four Loves.
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Philia (Friendship Love): This represents the love shared between friends. It emphasizes mutual respect, shared interests, and companionship. It's a bond built on trust, understanding, and shared experiences. This is the friend bond, again according to Wikipedia.
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Eros (Romantic Love): This is the passionate, intense love often associated with romantic relationships. It involves strong physical attraction, desire, and a deep emotional connection. This is characterized by infatuation, excitement, and intense feelings. This is the romantic love type.
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Agape (Selfless Love): This is unconditional love, characterized by compassion, empathy, and selflessness. It's the kind of love that prioritizes the well-being of others above oneself. This is the unconditional "God" love, as described in the Wikipedia article. It's the type of love emphasized in C.S. Lewis's The Four Loves.
Several resources mention additional aspects of love, such as care and willingness to nurture, but these usually fall under the umbrella of one of the four core types mentioned above. For example, care is a significant component of both storge and agape.
