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The four types of distinct (love) bond that I see are:
- Mating love; a tendency to bond to a desirable mate(s) or sexual partner(s).
- Offspring love; a tendency to bond to ones own genetic offspring.
- Genetic love; a tendency to bond to ones own close genetic relatives (even if they are not ones own offspring).
- Friendship love; a tendency to bond to other individuals in ones community or environment.
Consider the purpose, function, and characteristics of each of these types of love bond:
Mating Love
Purpose: The primary evolutionary purpose of mating love is to attract and keep mates together to support child rearing. Based on this definition alone, this model predicts that the strength and duration of mating love would be related (in general) to:
- Perceived genetic qualities of mate.
- Frequency and quality of sex.
- Exclusivity of sexual access.
- Reciprocity of love bond.
- Age and presence of children.
- Other factors unique to the individual.
Based on this definition, this model also predicts that mating love (in general):
- Is unselfish but self-serving.
- Evokes mutual supportiveness in exchange for sexual possession.
- Quickly reverts to selfishness after mate sexual infidelity.
- Tends to diminish as children grow beyond vulnerable stages.
- Tends to evolve towards ‘friendship love’.
- Will tend to last longer for females than for males.
- In males, will primarily be affected by sexual infidelity.
- In females, will primarily be affected by emotional infidelity.
- Can be a high or low intensity bond, but will not last for life.
Offspring Love
Purpose: The primary evolutionary purpose of offspring love is to motivate parents to protect their genetic offspring and invest in them. Based on the definition, this model predicts that the strength and duration of offspring love could be affected (in general) by:
- The number of other offspring.
- The hostility of the environment, or vulnerability of offspring.
- Other factors unique to the individual.
Based on the definition, this model also predicts that offspring love (in general):
- Is unselfish but self-serving.
- Primarily evokes protectiveness and nurturing.
- Will tend to diminish or revert to selfishness after adulthood.
- Will tend to be stronger and more enduring in females.
- Will be a high intensity bond that lasts (albeit in a diminished capacity) for life.
Genetic Love
Purpose: The primary evolutionary purpose of genetic love is to motivate individuals to protect their genetic ‘relations’. Based on the definition, this model predicts that the strength and duration of genetic love would be related (in general) to:
- The genetic ‘closeness’.
- Other factors unique to the individual.
Based on the definition, this model also predicts that genetic love (in general):
- Is unselfish but self-serving.
- Will tend to revert to selfishness under competitive conditions.
- Will tend to be characterized by protectiveness.
- Will be a low intensity bond that lasts for life.
Friendship Love
Purpose: The primary evolutionary purpose of friendship love is to bond in order capture the strategic evolutionary benefits of living in communal environments. Based on the definition, this model predicts that the strength and duration of friendship love would be related (in general) to:
- The reciprocity of the bond.
- Proximity and frequency of community interactions.
- Mutual relevance in the community environment.
- Other factors unique to the individual.
Based on the definition, this model also predicts that friendship love (in general):
- Is unselfish but self-serving
- Will tend to revert to selfishness under non-reciprocal conditions.
- Tends to be characterized by mutual supportiveness.
- Can be a high or low intensity bond, and will tend fade only with distance, lack of frequency, and/or reduced environmental relevance.
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- Mate Love
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- Game theory applied to seduction
- Mating motives can shape friendships (and attract trouble)
- Why Men Are More Visual