Love and Intimacy

Love is a basic emotion. It comes in a variety of forms. Most scientists distinguish between two kinds of love -  passionate love and compassionate love. Passionate love is a "hot", intense emotion. Compassionate love is a "cooler", far less intense emotion.

While passionate love is intense, it is generally very fleeting. Researchers have looked at how relationships progress among new couples, newlyweds and those married for a longer time and found that while passionate love is more intense at the beginning of relationships, it tends to give way to compassionate love that is focused on intimacy and commitment.Passionate love may be quick to fade, but compassionate love endures.

By Elaine Hatfield