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Liking Versus Loving: A Comparative Evaluation of Theories

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Abstract

In this article, I review and comparatively evaluate alternative theories of liking, loving, and their interrelations. The article opens with an introduction to some of the main issues and continues with three major parts. In the first, I review theories in which liking and loving are viewed as regions along a single continuum. In the second part, I discuss theories in which liking and loving are viewed as qualitatively distinct. This part is divided into three primary sections. The first section considers theories in which liking and loving are essentially disjoint sets. The second section considers theories in which liking and loving are viewed as overlapping sets. The third section considers theories in which liking is viewed as a subset of loving. In the final part, I present a framework that provides some coherence and integration of the various theories that have been discussed. It is concluded that most theories of liking and especially of loving have dealt with only part of each phenomenon and that better understanding is possible if these theories are viewed within a unifying framework that encompasses a broader view of liking and loving. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)