The Existential Context of Lovestyles

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Abstract
This study is an attempt to demonstrate empirically that the way in which one views love occurs within a broad and definable existential context. John Lee's (1974; 1977) typology of six "lovestyles" was investigated in relation to other phenomenological dimensions, including the fear of death, ego strength, self-esteem, and the meaningfulness of life. The lovestyles were also related to various self-ratings and demographic variables. One hundred and fifty-three undergraduates responded to measures of lovestyle and the existential and demographic variables. Existential profiles were generated for each lovestyle. A canonical correlation procedure resulted in an equation that placed the lovestyles along an existential dimension broadly conceived of as affirmativeness. The agapic and manic lovestyles were particularly prominent in that they seemed to occur within opposite existential contexts. The agapic appeared as a giving and positive position and the manic as dependent and negative. Comments are offered on the value of studying love and on the relevance of the findings to the theories of Maslow, Fromm, and others.

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