The Concept of Love

Beverly Fehr had people list attributes of the global concept of love. The words they used to describe love are listed below. Words at the beginning of the list are more central to the concept of love. Words later in the list are more peripheral to the concept.

Love is:

1. caring
2. happiness
3. want to be with the person
4. friendship
5. free to talk about anything
6. warm feelings
7. accept the person the way they are
8. trust
9. commitment
10. sharing
11. think about the person all the time
12. sacrifice
13. understanding
14. honesty
15. respect
16. contentment
17. euphoria
18. put the other first
19. sexual passion
20. supportive
21. attachment
22. closeness
23. empathy
24. concern for the person's well being
25. heart rate increases
26. helping
27. feel good about self
28. forgiveness
29. have a lot in common
30. miss the person when we're apart
31. feel relaxed with the person
32. giving
33. liking
34. security
35. unconditional
36. interest in the person
37. intimacy
38. laughing
39. loyalty
40. physical attraction
41. uncertainty
42. affection
43. butterflies in stomach
44. compassion
45. dependency
46. do things for the person
47. excitement
48. kind
49. the person is important
50. positive outlook
51. responsibility
52. see only the person's good qualities
53. touching
54. devotion
55. energy
56. gazing at the other
57. mutual
58. need each other
59. openness
60. patience
61. protective
62. scary
63. sexual appeal
64. wonderful feelings
65. admiration
66. comfort
67. want the best for the person
68. long-lasting