With Valentine’s Day at its core, the month of February is a time to celebrate love in all its forms, from romantic to platonic to familial and more. Regardless of the type, most relationships can be strengthened by better communication—and one of the ways to improve communication is by understanding the different “love languages.” Developed by Gary Chapman, Ph.D., in his book The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love That Lasts, the concept of love languages refers to the unique ways of communicating love and affection. Each individual has a preferred language, and understanding your own and the languages of those with whom you have relationships can help foster better awareness of each other’s needs. |
Here is a brief overview of the five love languages as described in Chapman’s book: - Words of affirmation. People whose preferred love language is words of affirmation tend to value compliments, frequent “I love you’s,” and other verbal or written expressions of affection and encouragement. - Quality time. Those with a love language of quality time feel happiest and most respected when their partners actively seek out time to spend with them. For these individuals, quality time includes plenty of active listening, eye contact, and undivided attention—so if this is your partner’s preferred language, be sure to avoid distractions when spending time with them. - Acts of service. This love language may encompass a wide variety of actions that show your partner that you care. For instance, simple gestures like bringing them coffee in the morning or running errands when they’ve had a busy day will likely have the greatest impact. - Gifts. In his book, Chapman refers to gifts as “visual symbols of love.” For people with gifts as a love language, the importance is not the monetary value of the gift, but rather the thoughtful process of choosing and presenting an item that symbolizes the meaning of the relationship. - Physical touch. Finally, the physical touch love language is just what it sounds like—individuals who prefer it feel most appreciated by hugging, holding hands, kissing, and other forms of physical closeness. Sources: mindbodygreen.com |
