Library Home: Gender & Sexual Diversity Education Resources: Types of Love

Asexual is normal for some people.

Not everyone has a desire for a sexual relationship.
People who identify as "Asexual" may still have relationships with people that they love in other ways.

What Does It Mean to Be Asexual? (healthline.com) Aside from sexual attraction, you can also experience: - Romantic attraction: desiring a romantic relationship with someone - Aesthetic attraction: being attracted to someone based on how they look - Sensual or physical attraction: wanting to touch, hold, or cuddle someone - Platonic attraction: wanting to be friends with someone - Emotional attraction: wanting an emotional connection with someone

Many Kinds of Love

Agape is unconditional, selfless love, that is all giving. Divine Love. Charity. Altruism.
Epithumia desire, passionate longing, lust. Negatively "lust" or positively "desire".
Eros or sexual passion. Physical and emotional love. Romantic Love. Erotic Love. Amorous. Fidelity.
Ludus means "game" in Latin. Playful Love. Playful Affection. Flirtation. Seduction.
Mania coming from the term manic. Obsession.
Philautia Self-love (healthy or unhealthy). Self Esteem. Narcissism. Vanity. Hubris
Philia Deep Friendship or Shared Goodwill. Comrades. Best Friends. Friendship. Affectionate Love.
Platonic Love without sexual desire. Inspires the mind and the soul towards spiritual things. Platonic Love.
Pragma Comfortable, or pragmatic. Not necessarily derived out of romantic love. Pragmatic Love. Enduring Love. Mature Love.
Storge Love of parent for child. Familial Love. Feeling of belonging.

See also:

Love Synonyms
Types of Love (courses.lumenlearning.com)
Liking - fond
Infatuation - short lived mania
Fatuous Love - intense physical attraction - lust
Empty [passive] Love - committed/ storge feelings but not erotic. - "good friends"
Consummate [active] Love - Intimacy, passion, and commitment - "ideal".
Types of Lovers (courses.lumenlearning.com/)
Pragma - practical
Mania - maniac
Agape - unconditional
Eros - erotic
Ludus - flirt - player - noncommittal
Storge - long-term - solid

Sternberg - Love Theories

Triangular Theory of Love
These three components are intimacy, passion, and decision/commitment.
Theory of Love as a Story
"...as a result of our exposure to such stories, we form over time our own stories of what love is or should be." Common story lines include:
more...less...
Addiction
Art [esthetics]
Business
Collection
Cookbook
Fantasy
Game
Gardening
Government - Autocratic or Democratic
History - [shared history]
Horror / abusive
House and Home - [domestic, see "Cookbook"]
Humor
Mystery - [avoided oversharing]
Police - [stalker]
Pornography. - [degradation]
Recovery
Religion
Sacrifice
Science
Science Fiction
Sewing. Love is whatever you make it.
[Soul-mates are not found, they are made.]
Theater - [See: Cookbook]
Travel. Love is a journey.
War - [See: Game]
Student-teacher - [Power dynamic]

Image Source: Biography of Psychologist Robert Sternberg

Gender & Sexual Diversity Education Resources: Types of Love

Asexual is normal for some people.

Not everyone has a desire for a sexual relationship. People who identify as "Asexual" may still have relationships with people that they love in other ways.

Many Kinds of Love

Sternberg - Love Theories

Aside from sexual attraction, you can also experience:

Not everyone has a desire for a sexual relationship.
People who identify as "Asexual" may still have relationships with people that they love in other ways.