Compassionate and Altruistic Love: Culture and Meaning in Couple Relationships

Love has been a topic of deep interest throughout the centuries, evoking different aspects and concepts that vary according to cultural and social contexts. Among these, compassionate love stands out, also known as altruistic love, inspired by Buddhist and Eastern approaches that emphasize compassion as a feeling of kindness and the desire to alleviate the suffering of others (Fehr & Sprecher, 2009; Perlman & Sánchez Aragón , 2009).

According to Fehr et al. (2009), the characteristics of this type of love are derived from religious norms and teachings, although they are not directly linked to any specific religion. Sprecher and Fehr (2005) define compassionate love as a set of attitudes and behaviors that focus on care, concern, tenderness, support, help, and understanding toward people in one's close social circle, such as friends and family, as well as toward strangers and society in general.

This type of love often arises from the perception that the other person is in danger, which distinguishes it from other types of love, such as passionate or romantic love (Neto & Wilks, 2017). Characteristic of this love is the free choice of the individual to act with devotion and care toward others, anticipating and responding to the other's needs and feelings in an understanding and supportive manner (Fehr et al., 2014).

Altruistic Love and Its Impact on Couple Relationships

Altruistic love reflects an individual's willingness to act kindly toward his or her partner, showing commitment and attention to improve adverse situations in a selfless and sacrificial manner, putting the needs of the other first (Reis et al., 2014). . This type of love is closely related to unconditional support and attention to the loved one, fundamental characteristics to promote their well-being, even if it implies a greater emotional cost for the person offering it.

Love and Culture: Differences and Convergences

At the socio-cultural level, the meaning and construction of emotional-sexual relationships varies significantly depending on the cultural and social context (Karandashev, 2017, 2019). While in Western societies romantic love has evolved by separating itself from religious influences and linking itself more to socioeconomic changes and contemporary discourses of freedom of choice, in Eastern societies love and relationships are more shaped by traditional religious and social norms (Bauman, 2012; Kadri et al., 2010).

Conclusions and Final Thoughts

Understanding the different types of love and how they are expressed in different cultures is essential to fostering satisfying and meaningful relationships. From compassionate love, which seeks to alleviate the suffering of another, to altruistic love, which sacrifices for the well-being of the loved one, each manifestation of love profoundly influences the happiness and stability of couples.

Although there are significant cultural differences, the universal value of love as a transformative force in human relationships remains a constant across time and across borders.