Chapter 6

David Komorowski

Summary: In Chapter six we look at the differences of loving and liking but more specifically the definition of love, the various theories about what makes it, the functions, and characteristics. As we said in a lot of discussion in lecture these definitions are not rigid but are to pretty much be interpreted and reflected upon by each individual. Before this though, the chapter talks about friendship and eight important qualities—enjoyment, acceptance, trust, respect, along with several others—that make it up according to Keith Davis. After this the chapter talks about the characteristics that make love up and then theories. Some of the theories are known as Biochemistry Love, attachment theory, Reiss’s Wheel Theory, etc. After this the functions of love are spoken about—for human survival, enhancing our physical and emotional health, improving our quality of love, etc. Then this chapter talks about same sex marriage and some things that can go wrong with love—jealousy, control issues, physical abuse, etc—then to end with how couples change and arranged love.

What I Learned: After much discussion in class and seeing how everybody seemed to have their own interpretation of love and what makes it up, I have come to the conclusion that each theory is different and (I believe) makes sense in their own ways and are to be combined to come up with new theories that help define love in a way everybody could have a consensus on. After all, that is what Sociology is; looking at theories and making new ones to help further the science of studying human interaction.

What could’ve been explained better: I believe the arranged love section of the chapter was very short and if the study about it isn’t really that far along, then ambitious sociologists could maybe explore that aspect of marriage/love and how it’s perceived with people who are involved in arranged marriages. The study of this could be interviews of people from arranged marriages, the parents and family that influence or even force it upon their children, etc. I believe that it is a culture choice and possibly has functions which I say because in the book it talks about how people in arranged marriages couldn’t find partners otherwise. Either way I believe if studies on this haven’t been done, they could be and a lot could be learned.