Love in Psychoanalysis

Psychoanalytical concepts

Abstract

Each person has his/her own subjective representation of love, it might depend on gender and age group, undergo qualitative changes in the time continuum. However, the characteristic of an individual's representation of love cannot guarantee its presence in life, since the capacity to love, and moreover the capability to mature love, cannot be taken for granted and depends on the quality of relationships with primary objects. The representation of love and the search for an object of love are based on an unconscious choice depending on the subject's infantile experience. Attitude of primary objects towards a child awakens its sexual drives and provides the basis for further development. Frustrating infantile experience of interaction with primary objects can cause unsatisfactory love relationships in adulthood. Understanding different aspects of an individual's love life and a couple’s relationships can help identify unconscious conflicts (fear of addiction, guilt, envy, denial of idealization, etc.) that stand in the way of satisfying, mature love relationships. Psychoanalytically oriented work can help to shape and develop the capacity to love and deepen the quality of an individual's love relationship.