Love without desire for intimacy has long been considered pure and true. Such relationships are called platonic: in this case, the partners are bound only by deep conversations, shared interests, and strong feelings. Let's take a look at what platonic love means and what advantages it has.
What is platonic love?
Platonic love is a relationship between two people in which there is no sexual attraction. Unlike romantic love, where sex plays an important role, the essence of this type of love lies in the spiritual connection between the partners.
The term originated from the name of the ancient Greek philosopher Plato. He first described this type of relationship in his work “The Symposium,” where he outlined his concept of ideal love. The philosopher distinguished between two kinds of love: earthly love, based on physical attraction, and heavenly love, directed toward the knowledge of truth and the beauty of the soul.
According to Plato, it is heavenly love that brings man closer to understanding the ideal world of ideas and achieving spiritual perfection.
Modern psychology considers platonic love to be a special form of human relationship that can exist alongside romantic relationships rather than replace them. Here are a few situations where such relationships occur:
- friendly love,
- long-distance relationships,
- infatuation with an ideal or image,
- strong attachment to a relative,
- the relationship between a mentor and a student.
How platonic love manifests itself
This type of love has specific characteristics. Here are the most common ones.
Strong emotional connection
The main feature of platonic love is a strong emotional connection. A man and a woman understand each other without words, sense their partner's mood, and are ready to support them at any moment.
Sincere concern for your partner
In such relationships, partners sincerely care about each other's well-being. At the same time, they do not expect anything in return and care for their beloved selflessly.
Lack of physical attraction
The key feature of platonic love is the complete absence of sexual attraction. People can feel deep affection and infatuation for each other, but sex is not a goal or a need in such relationships. The focus is entirely on the spiritual and emotional spheres.
The inner world of the partner is more important than appearance
In platonic love, it is not external attractiveness that comes first, but a person's inner qualities. Partners admire each other's character, intelligence, and talents. Appearance is not a determining factor in such relationships.
Communication on deep topics
Love is characterized by complete trust between partners. They can not only openly share their feelings, dreams, and plans, but also discuss deep life topics and philosophical questions. Such conversations usually last for hours and bring partners even closer together.
Independence from other relationships
This love does not seek to replace romantic relationships or become an alternative to them. It exists as a separate, independent type of connection between people. Thus, a person can be in a romantic relationship with one partner and feel platonic love for another.
Platonic love and romantic relationships
Both types of relationships involve close friendship, feelings, and sincere trust. However, there are differences between them.
Sexual connection
Platonic love involves sexual attraction and even physical contact. In romantic relationships, partners will seek physical closeness and desire hugs, kisses, and sex.
Jealousy
In romantic relationships, partners expect fidelity and exclusive commitment from each other. Thus, people in love may experience jealousy if their partner pays attention to others. Platonic love is free from such expectations — people do not claim exclusivity and do not feel jealous of each other.
Romantic gestures
To maintain an emotional connection and a sense of value in their partner, romantic partners use certain rituals and gestures: gifts, dates, trips together, and hobbies. Platonic love manifests itself differently — through deep conversations, intellectual communication, and joint creativity. There is no place for traditional romantic gestures here, but there is a special emotional closeness.
Advantages of platonic relationships
They often become a source of support for individuals and play a crucial role in their mental well-being.
Emotional stability
Partners can feel a special emotional sense of security because there are no sexual expectations or romantic demands. This type of friendship does not depend on mood, commitments, or physical attraction, which makes it more stable and predictable.
Consistency
Relationships do not depend on life circumstances, changes in partners, or marital status. Such friendships can last for decades, passing through all stages of life and retaining their depth and sincerity.
Physical benefits
According to experts from the American Psychological Association, platonic relationships can have a positive effect on human health. For example, this kind of love can reduce the risk of depression and disease and boost immunity.
Examples of platonic relationships
William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet
Still from the film Romeo and Juliet (1968)
The relationship between the main characters was based on platonic love. They were both focused on each other's spiritual world, expressing their feelings through admiration and unconditional love. Going beyond physical passion, they become a symbol of the struggle for sincere feelings.
When Harry Met Sally (1989)
A still from the film When Harry Met Sally (1989)
This film explores the question of how possible platonic relationships between men and women are. Harry and Sally, the main characters, have a deep friendship and emotional connection. For a long time, their relationship can be described as platonic, without romantic expectations, but with sincere care and understanding for each other.
“The Little Prince” by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
A frame from the animated film “The Little Prince” (2015)
The relationships between the Little Prince and the rose, as well as between the prince and the pilot, can be seen as examples of platonic love. Their bonds are based on spiritual closeness, care, and understanding, where the physical component is simply irrelevant. The characters express their feelings through their willingness to sacrifice themselves for one another and their desire to understand their partners' inner worlds.
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