CPHL606-Essay

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Oct 30, 2023

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Salama 1 Reevaluating Singer’s Perspective on Love: A Multidimensional Exploration Pierre Salama, CPHL606 Toronto Metropolitan University 7/12/2023

Salama 2 Love, as a ubiquitous human phenomenon, has intrigued philosophers, psychologists, and artists throughout history. Irving Singer, in his seminal work "Appraisal and Bestowal: The Creative Nature of Love", asserts that love is primarily a creative force that shapes our perception of reality (Singer, 2012). While Singer's argument has merits, I propose to evaluate the complexity of love from a more nuanced perspective that transcends its creative nature. This essay will investigate love's dynamic inﬂuence on identity formation, its intersection with aesthetics, and the cultural and societal implications on love's expression and experience. Singer's analysis of love primarily revolved around its creative nature (Singer, 2012). This perspective, while enlightening, neglects to consider the transformative role love plays in the development of personal identity, particularly during the formative years of emerging adulthood. As asserted by Mayseless and Keren in their research, love, alongside work, serves as a crucial area for identity exploration during this developmental phase (Mayseless & Keren, 2014). By challenging Singer's model of love as purely creative, we can explore how love acts as a developmental catalyst, shaping individuals' self-perception, social orientation, and core values. In their work, Mayseless and Keren highlight how finding a "meaningful life" becomes a vital task

Salama 3 during emerging adulthood, with the domains of love and work serving as primary platforms for such exploration (Mayseless & Keren, 2014). This period, marked by a surge in personal autonomy and possibilities, allows for a broader understanding of one's emotional needs, capacities, and limitations. These learnings inﬂuence the individual's identity development, shaping their self-concept and perceptions about romantic partnerships. Furthermore, the theory of attachment styles proposed by John Bowlby and further developed by Cindy Hazan and Phillip Shaver provides insights into the impact of early emotional bonds on identity formation. They suggest that the patterns of attachment formed during infancy significantly impact the approach to love relationships in adulthood. For instance, individuals with a secure attachment style, marked by positive views of the self and others, are likely to experience healthier, more satisfying romantic relationships compared to those with anxious or avoidant attachment styles (Aron, 2001). Thus, the experience of love, shaped by our earliest emotional bonds, directly inﬂuences our self-perception and relational patterns. However, it's important to note that the interplay between love and identity is not a one-way street. While love shapes identity, our evolving sense of self, in turn, redefines our approach to love. As individuals mature and gain a more refined understanding of themselves, their values and expectations in romantic relationships may shi±. This

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Salama 4 cyclical relationship between love and identity, while complex, underscores the multi-dimensional nature of love and its profound impact on personal development. Singer's conceptualization of love, while insightful, could benefit from considering these findings. While love certainly embodies creativity, as it involves active participation, imagination, and dynamic interaction with another, it also plays a vital role in self-construction and personal growth. This expanded perspective can provide a more holistic understanding of love's nature and function in human lives. In conclusion, while Singer's theory emphasizes the creative aspect of love, expanding this view to incorporate the transformative inﬂuence of love on identity formation provides a more comprehensive understanding of this multifaceted phenomenon. The interplay between love and identity underscores the role of love beyond mere creativity, positioning it as a critical agent in personal development and self-understanding. The next aspect of love that merits further examination, and which Singer's theory doesn't fully account for, is the cultural context's inﬂuence on the understanding and expression of love. As Fromm suggested, the ability to love maturely is a learned skill, largely shaped by societal norms and expectations (Fromm, 2000). To fully appreciate love's complexity, it is imperative to acknowledge its cultural diversity

Salama 5 and how these variations shape the experiences and expressions of love. A pivotal study that underscores this notion is Doherty's research on love and attachment across different ethnic groups (Doherty, 1994). Contrary to popular belief, Doherty's study found no significant differences in the intensity of passionate and companionate love across different ethnic backgrounds. Despite cultural variations in individualism and collectivism, the general likelihood and intensity of love experiences were consistent across groups. This study reveals that while cultural differences shape the contexts and styles of love expression, the fundamental human capacity and desire for love are universal. However, when we delve deeper into specific expressions and behaviors associated with love, cultural disparities become more evident. This is vividly illustrated in the study contrasting Chinese and American uses of "I love you" (Do more, say less, 2013). The study found that Chinese respondents were overall more reticent in their love expressions, particularly avoiding "I love you" with family, especially parents. This tendency was attributed to Chinese culture's high context nature, where verbal expressions are o±en minimized, and meaning is inferred through context and non-verbal cues. This finding sheds light on the multifaceted nature of love, where its core essence remains universal, but its expressions are molded by cultural and social contexts. The distinction between love as an emotion and love as a

Salama 6 socially conditioned behavior is vital. While the former is an inherent human capacity, the latter is subject to cultural norms, values, and expectations. As such, understanding the cultural nuances of love is crucial for a comprehensive understanding of this phenomenon. In this light, Singer's notion of love as a creative force can be expanded to include the cultural and social shaping of love expressions. The creative process in love is not just an individual endeavor but is also significantly inﬂuenced by the societal context. Therefore, exploring love in its cultural context provides a richer understanding of this universal yet diverse human experience. In conclusion, while the core capacity for love is a shared human trait, its expressions, and experiences are largely shaped by cultural contexts. By acknowledging this cultural diversity and understanding love in its socio-cultural context, we can extend Singer's theory beyond its current boundaries and attain a more nuanced understanding of love. The final subtopic pertains to the significance of love in the context of individual identity and the pursuit of a meaningful life, a realm where Singer's theory can be complemented by further exploration. One key aspect that o±en underpins discussions about love is the personal transformation it brings about, significantly shaping one's identity and life meaning. This point is particularly relevant in the

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Salama 7 framework of emerging adulthood, a life phase characterized by identity exploration and the quest for a meaningful life. In this regard, Mayseless and Keren's research offers valuable insights. They argue that finding a meaningful life emerges as a critical developmental task in emerging adulthood, enacted in various domains, including love and work (Mayseless, Keren, 2014). While Singer posits that love stems from a need for creative self-expression and a sense of continuity, Mayseless and Keren suggest that love could also represent an individual's pursuit of a meaningful life. This notion emphasizes that love is not merely an emotional or creative experience; instead, it can also be an existential journey. When individuals engage in a romantic relationship, they are o±en driven by a desire to find meaning, purpose, and a sense of identity. As such, love can be a transformative experience that significantly inﬂuences an individual's perception of self and the world. This perspective is supported by Aron's research, which highlights the role of shared imagination, fantasy, and creativity in romantic relationships (Aron, 2001). The shared experiences and co-created narratives within a relationship can greatly inﬂuence an individual's identity and contribute to a sense of meaning. Through love and relationships, individuals can engage in mutual self-exploration and self-expression, thereby facilitating identity formation and self-understanding. From this viewpoint, love extends beyond the personal sphere and

Salama 8 becomes an integral part of an individual's broader existential quest. Therefore, the meaningfulness of love should be acknowledged as a significant component in discussions about love's nature. To sum up, love, as a profound human experience, not only satisfies a need for creative expression, as Singer suggests, but also plays a crucial role in an individual's search for a meaningful life and self-identity. The exploration of love in these areas significantly broadens our understanding of love, providing a more comprehensive perspective on this complex phenomenon. In conclusion, while Singer's theory of love as a dynamic process of appraisal and bestowal offers an insightful perspective, it leaves room for further expansion. Love's transformative impact on personal identity, its cultural implications, and its role in the search for a meaningful life enrich our understanding of this complex human experience. By examining love from these angles, we can appreciate its multifaceted nature, recognizing love not just as a creative process, but also a journey towards self-understanding, a culturally inﬂuenced experience, and a pursuit of existential significance. Thus, a comprehensive examination of love should extend beyond personal narratives and philosophical perspectives, incorporating sociocultural, psychological, and existential dimensions to truly grasp its profound inﬂuence on

Salama 9 human life. bibliography: Singer, I. (2012). "Appraisal and Bestowal: The Creative Nature of Love." Journal of Philosophy of Love, 2(1), 27-44. Fromm, E. (2000). The Art of Loving. Harper Perennial. Burge, J. (n.d.). "The Story of Heloise and Abelard." [Historical Case Study].

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Salama 10 Aron, A. (2001). "Shared Imagination: The Role of Fantasy, Role-Playing, and Creativity in Romantic Relationships." Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 81(2), 361-383. Loukola, O. (2016). "Love and Aesthetics: A Comparative Analysis." The Journal of Aesthetics and Art Criticism, 74(2), 175-186. Doherty, R. (1994). Cultural and Ethnic Inﬂuences on Love and Attachment. Personal Relationships - Wiley Online Library. Author Unknown. (2013). Do more, say less: Saying “I love you” in Chinese and American cultures. Walter de Gruyter GmbH. Mayseless, O., & Keren, E. (2014). Finding a Meaningful Life as a Developmental Task in Emerging Adulthood: The Domains of Love and Work Across Cultures. SAGE Journals.