Passionate love versus compassionate love?

[knowmeyourself]

After reading "The Happiness Hypothesis" by Jonathan Haidt, It came to my knowledge that there exist two kinds of love: passionate love and compassionate love.

Check out these two graphs: link link (The first one is over a period of 6 months while the second one over 60 years of shared love)

I do not really understand the difference between these two kinds of love. Like, if you are compassionately in love, does that mean you aren't madly in love with your partner?

So, I would like to know what you think about the difference between passionate and compassionate love. Examples will be great as well.

Thanks. :)

[Inq100]

I think that the term used was 'companionate.' It refers to the ability to make a true lasting partnership, whereas passion is all about living out your emotions without thinking of the future.

It probably does not matter much how love or relationship starts. It matters how long you can sustain it.

I know for sure that feeling romantic, for instance, does not predict whether your relationship will last a long time. That has been shown by research.

I read it somewhere that compassionate love (a different term) usually does not last. If there is much difference between the partners that calls for compassion, a stable relationship can be achieved only if difference is overlooked.

Terms used in research literature can be confusing. Do not rely on the accepted meaning of the words. A researcher may choose a term rather randomly or even invent a new word and ascribe a whole new meaning to it. Without explanations of the author, you'll not be able to grasp the meaning.

[7gnat]

Compassionate love is a steady companionship love. A love that is hard to find. It is loyalty, dedication, sacrifice, hard work, and life long. I have had 2 or 3 women that I loved like that and either the timing in my life was not good or I was too young and immature to handle a real relationship. I would put my grandparents into that category. I loved them unconditionally and will love them till I am dead for sure. I hope to have a relationship with a women that lasts my lifetime and is filled with compassionate love. A passionate love is one that is needy. Passionate love is wanting to be deep in a woman. It is a love that makes you dizzy with wanting and needing to please sexually.

[knowmeyourself]

Great answer. :)

[7gnat]

Thank you Sally

[NonchalantBro]

this rings true

[7gnat]

Thnx nonchalant

[7gnat]

Thnx for the best answer Sally!

[knowmeyourself]

;-)

[rudy37lee]

To me passionate is more like fireworks where as compassionate is like a long burning candle. While the first one may be more exciting, it is short lived. Where as the second one is a more steady mellow long lasting light. I think every successful couple has a little bit of passion in their relationship, but a relationship based all on passion is not a good thing. If the relationship is all passion, when things are good they are great, and when things aren't good they are REALLY BAD. There isn't much flat ground, it's all peaks and valleys. The compassionate couple still shares a passion, it just doesn't constitute the majority of the relationship.

[knowmeyourself]

Beautiful answer. Thank you. :)

[toulouse]

i think the combination, is ideal/

also passionate, doesn't mean positive, or negative. hate is passionate, so is love, you can be kind & passionate, you can be a jerk & passionate.

id stay with what type of person I like-- respectful, considerate, honest, passionate, playful, open minded, compassionate.

i don't think you have one kind out of two kinds of anything. I'm not sure why everyone is so anxious to divide everything into 'two possibilities.

[kady4e]

The difference I see between passionate love and compassionate love was always the difference I saw between young and old couples.

you fall in love and get really passionate with that person, but after a while it vanishes away, while the feelings of compassion keep growing. and you always end up doing for that person (when it's closer to the ''end'') things that you would never have done on those 6months of passion.

[MyNameIsJonas]

I think there is a difference in passion and dedicated type of love for someone. Honestly I've never had a real compassionate mature type relationship but I have had passionate short lived ones. I really think that a combination of both is needed for a healthy long lived relationship. I would want to be with someone I was very attracted too and have great chemistry and still have that maturity. That's ideal.

[knowmeyourself]

I agree!

[joannabazeile]

Agree, too.

[MrOracle]

Passionate love: Lust, excitement, energy, orgasms, etc.

Compassionate love: caring, protecting, empathizing, providing for, etc.

Passionate love is what you have with your mate, while compassionate love is what you have for your "loved ones", meaning, the people you care about.

[katg4560]

Passionate love is more physical and companionate love is more emotional. That's the most basic way of explaining the difference. They are actual psychology terms though of you want to look up the definitions in a psychology book or online.

[Jase95]

Compassionate is remorseful and understanding

Passionate is more intimate feelings of a connection between two people.

[knowmeyourself]

What do you mean by "remorseful and understanding"?

[Jase95]

These words relate more to the mental state of mind, the later passionate relates to both physical and mental elements of love.

[Blobb]

From the meaning of the words, compassionnate love is more like you feel sorry for someone.

Passionnate love is equal to mad lust.