Love And Relationships

576 Words3 Pages
Patrice Jenkins October 18, 2011 SOCI 330 Critical Essay 3 We all have all experienced love and feel that we know what it is. (2008:137) Love is an emotion and behavior essential for human survival. (2008:136) According to nine-year old boy for example, “Love is like an avanclache where you have run for life”. Relationships do not just happen; we create them. Good relationships are the result of conscious effort and work. Love is about acceptance: Being sympathetic to another’s flaws and cherishing the person’s other characteristics that are special and lovable. People who feel loved, accepted, and valued are more likely to treat others in a similar manner. (2008:159) One historian argues that love is dysfunctional because it creates high divorce e rates. This is because many Americans are in love with love, their unreal expectations result in unhappiness and dissolutions of marriages. Researchers and family practitioners believe that love is at the core of healthy and well-functioning relationships and families. Love fulfills many purposes that range from ensuring human survival to providing opportunities for recreation. (2008:147). Love can change in many different ways throughout a relationship. Not having a secure base o f love can lead to aggression, hostility, and diminished self confidence, and emotional problems. (2008:148) A number of barriers can block our search for love. Some are the macro level which is: the impersonality of mass society, demographics variables, and our culture emphasis on individualism. Others are micro lever such as personality characteristics and family experiences. (2008:150) Demographics factors that can shape our love experiences are age, income, and occupation. Financial stress has recently battered the romantic lives of those men who use to have large incomes. (2008:150) the double standard is one of the most
Open Document