Love, many say, is its own reward, but you typically don’t get anything out of altruistic acts. You offer your love for their support and benefit. In terms of unconditional love, altruism means you don’t consider any potential benefits of loving someone. It’s altruisticĪltruism refers to helpful actions taken to support and benefit others, often at your own expense. When it comes to romantic relationships, unconditional love could mean that love doesn’t go away, despite challenges like life-altering health conditions or changes in appearance or personality. In the context of friendship, unconditional love might weather tests like conflict, falling out of touch, or differing life goals. If you know your parents or caregivers will continue to love you even after you make mistakes or do things they don’t approve of - from failing a class to having a drink at a party when you’re underage - you’ll feel more comfortable making your own choices and learning from them as you go. Unconditional love can provide a sense of security in both childhood and adulthood.įeeling confident in someone’s love and knowing it won’t go away can help create secure attachments and foster autonomy, independence, and self-worth. This suggests parental unconditional love could offer some protection against the harmful, often lingering effects of childhood trauma or abuse. Results from a 2013 study support the idea that loving children unconditionally improves their lifelong health and wellness. They also tend to experience fewer mental health symptoms. According to research from 2010, children who receive higher levels of affection from their parents or caregivers tend to have greater resilience in adulthood. Receiving unconditional love can also make a difference in emotional well-being. In other words, the simple act of loving someone unconditionally may produce positive feelings. The results of the study suggest that unconditional love activates some of the same areas of the brain’s reward system that romantic love does. It can benefit emotional healthĪ small 2009 study explored the brain regions activated by feelings of unconditional love. You can recognize it by these key characteristics. Though it may overlap with other types of love in some ways, other elements set it apart.
Read on for a deeper understanding of what unconditional love is (and isn’t) and some strategies for cultivating it.
Is this love as elusive as it sounds? Can it even happen in romantic relationships? Yet this type of love might still seem like the stuff of fairy tales and movies, not something most people encounter in real life. Wanting someone to love you for yourself - no matter what - is an understandable desire. While people often associate unconditional love with familial love, many look for this love in romantic relationships, too. Maybe it brings to mind the love your parents have for you or the love you have for your own child. This type of love, sometimes called compassionate or agape love, might sound somewhat familiar. You simply love them and want nothing more than their happiness. You don’t base it on what someone does for you in return. Unconditional love, simply put, is love without strings attached. Share on Pinterest Sophie Mayanne / Getty Images
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