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Do you love someone or are you in love?
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You’re hanging out with your best friend, and your chest warms as they laugh—is this because you love them or because you’re in love with them? Love is a complex emotion, and the feelings of “loving” and “being in love” are two different things. One identifies platonic or romantic emotions, while the other is strictly romantic. So, which is which and what are you feeling? Keep reading to find out!
Things You Should Know
- Loving someone is a feeling of compassion, care, and respect and can be romantic or platonic.
- Being in love is an emotional and romantic infatuation that’s best compared to a crush.
- The feeling of loving someone can last forever, whereas being in love is a fleeting feeling that can fade or grow.
Steps
How Do You Know If You Love Someone?
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Expert Interview
Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about love, check out our in-depth interview with Kelli Miller, LCSW, MSW .
References
- ↑ https://psychcentral.com/relationships/the-psychology-of-love
- ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/complicated-love/201806/in-love-versus-loving
- ↑ https://psychcentral.com/health/how-to-maintain-love-in-healthy-relationships
- ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/complicated-love/201806/in-love-versus-loving
- ↑ https://positivepsychology.com/great-self-care-setting-healthy-boundaries/
- ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/compassion-matters/201312/what-it-really-means-be-in-love
- ↑ https://positivepsychology.com/great-self-care-setting-healthy-boundaries/
- ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/surviving-your-childs-adolescence/201206/adolescence-and-falling-in-love
- ↑ https://psychcentral.com/relationships/the-psychology-of-love
About This Article
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