Respond to 2 peers in seperate paragraphs
peer 1: Kaitlyn
After reading this weeks readings, it is safe to say that cultural values and traditional behaviors influence the expressions and the experiences of love are highly influential in passionate love. Cultural norms and values play a crucial role in udnerstanding love, romantic behavior, and passionate love. Love is most definately a product of nature, and the youngest stage in which this is probably learned is with mother and baby. People around the world have different traditions and cultures/experiences that can impact how they can express love. Some practices from around the world are things like kisses, giving gifts, kind acts for their loved ones and so on. Passionate love is also known as romantic love, and doing these things for their partner to show their attraction varies.
The forms and expressions of romantic passion vary significantly, as does the culture’s attitude toward passionate love. As mentioned in the text, Modern Western culture has come to regard passionate love as an important part of life, so that if you never experience it, you will have missed out on a major form of fulfillment. Possibly, people in other cultures feel love as we do but do not place the same value on it and do not feel that a life without passionate love is by definition a lesser life.
One form of love in my culture includes the kiss on the cheek. It is a thing that most Italians do when greeting eachother, by giving a hug and a kiss on the cheek. This is a form of compassionate/affectonate love.
peer 2: Isis
Passionate love is a product of culture because different cultures shape how people feel about passionate love. Passionate love exists in all parts of the world but the expressions and forms vary in each culture. This could also change based on the events and situations going on during that time. For example, in Western cultures, many put great emphasis on passionate love being an important part of life however in other cultures might feel that passionate love exists but compassionate love matters more. Even Western cultures’ attitudes about passionate love have changed like how they believe passionate love shouldn’t be something you marry someone for.
There are many forms of love that I feel are exclusive to the US. One form of love is a promise ring. I am not sure if people have this in other countries but I know it means a great deal for people here because it shows that you want to be exclusively committed to someone and eventually marry them when the time is right. Sometimes couples don’t have enough money or in the right circumstances to get married right away so it’s seen as a placeholder. I feel like I hear a lot of young couples getting promise rings. Another form of love is a soulmate which is seen as someone who you are meant to be with. I think that we put so much importance on finding that perfect forever person that our standards can be too high. Everyone who isn’t your soulmate seems insignificant or disposable.
