Love has long been the concern of philosophers, psychologists, and laymen alike, but whether a physical relationship is significant in true love remains a polarising issue. For some individuals, a physical relationship may have no significance in true love, while for others, a physical relationship further strengthens the bond in a way that no words can.
Many young couples are thinking about whether a physical relationship is important in true love. This article sheds some light on this topic.
The Role of Physical Connection in Human Bonding
Physical touch has biological and psychological significance. When sexual partners touch each other in affectionate ways, the brain sends out oxytocin, nicknamed the “bonding hormone.” According to findings from the National Institutes of Health, oxytocin released during physical touch stimulates the emotions of trust and attachment between partners. Thus, the reason why some couples find unity through the act of holding hands or having sexual intercourse is that it stimulates oxytocin to flow.
A physical relationship also speaks of expressing desire and affirmation. Many people see physical closeness as a means of expressing their continued worth. In long-term commitments, where routines often extinguish passion, physical closeness is often a means of remembering there is a romantic relationship. Does this mean love cannot be present without physical closeness? Not necessarily, but often physical closeness can add to emotional investments where there is mutual respect.
Physical intimacy in a relationship can also build trust. Intimate couples trust each other with their bodies. Trust helps strengthen relationships. Physical intimacy can show respect. Physical intimacy between two people shows care and trust.
True love and a healthy relationship require physical intimacy. Physical intimacy can strengthen a couple’s emotional bond and relationship. If you’re in a relationship, be intimate. It will help to make your relationship stronger.
Emotional Intimacy Versus Physical Intimacy
There are people who highlight the importance of emotional intimacy as compared to physical intimacy in true love. When people have emotional intimacy, empathy, communication, and shared values are part of it. Emotional intimacy is the ability to support each other through times like illnesses, financial struggles, and loss. The statistics gathered from surveys related to relationship counselling indicate that communication is among the three main causes of separation, above physical intimacy in most cases.
In fact, it is the case that emotional and physical intimacy are not competitors. Rather, they are complements. Emotional intimacy can enhance physical intimacy. Physical intimacy can consolidate emotional safety. The danger in relationships that bypass either the emotional or the physical aspects of intimacy is the potential problem of imbalance. A relationship founded solely on the physical aspect of intimacy may become challenged when the emotional aspect fails. Conversely, a relationship that overlooks the physical aspect of intimacy may be beset with difficulties.
Cultural and Personal Perspectives on Physical Relationships
Cultural norms play an important role in shaping the perception of physical relationships in love. In certain cultures, any form of physical intimacy before marriage is considered taboo, while in other cultures it is considered an organic progression of love. They play an important role in shaping our personal opinions. Real love honours these ideologies, not imposing any one standard.
For instance, the couple may establish the concept of love in terms of companionship or shared purposes as opposed to sexual encounters. Perhaps the individual perceives sexual closeness as the core of emotional fulfilment. These do not negate the concepts of love. Conflicts occur when the couple has conflicting misunderstandings about the act. Communication will help the couple synchronise the concepts.
Can True Love Exist Without a Physical Relationship?
There are situations where some or no physical intimacy exists within a relationship. Long-distance relations, asexual relations, or those strained through illness are direct examples. In such cases, love takes other forms such as commitment, communication, or joint goal achievement. Studies from the “Journal of Social & Personal Relationships” state that relationship satisfaction tends to be more dependent on a relationship’s feeling of understanding and support than on physical intimacy.
These examples dispute the idea that the existence or absence of physical relationships is the defining component of love. They also stress the importance of choice. As long as both people involved accept the lack or need restriction in the physical relationship aspect, the presence of love is assured.
Is physical relationship important in marriage?
Here’s the thing: marriage is hard. It’s not always butterflies and rainbows. There will be arguments; there will be days when you don’t even want to be around your spouse. But if you have a strong physical relationship, it can help get you through the tough times.
Think about it this way: a sexual relationship is a way to show your spouse that you still care about them, even when you’re going through a rough patch. It’s a way to show them that you’re still attracted to them and want to be close to them.
A strong physical relationship can also help to keep the spark alive in a marriage. Let’s face it, after years of being together, it’s easy for the physical side of things to fizzle out. But if you try to keep things fresh and exciting, it can make all the difference.
So, is a physical relationship important in marriage? Absolutely. But it’s also important to remember that it’s not the only thing that matters. A strong physical relationship is just one piece of the puzzle. If you want a happy and successful marriage and long-term relationship, you need to focus on all aspects of your relationship, not just the physical.
How much sex should a couple have?
This is one of those “no one is wrong” answers since so much about sex is personal. How you approach it, how you feel about it, how comfortable you are with it, whether it’s for the first time, whether it’s after two kids, or whether you prefer to save that for when you’re more ready and emotionally mature — these are all valid ways to approach it.
In fact, there are probably hundreds of valid ways to approach sex. And just like in any other area of your life, this is a decision that you make with your partner. There could be several reasons why one of the partners will try not to indulge in sex due to mental or physical health issues. According to a published article in the Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy, people may avoid sex due to confronting sexual dysfunction, an ageing body, performance anxiety, and so on. Hence, the frequency of sex would be significantly different for such couples.
Conclusion
A physical relationship holds special significance in most cases of loving relationships, but it certainly does not define the extent of actual love. Love grows on trust, communication, and mutual respect, with physical intimacy sometimes serving as a reinforcement of love but not necessarily forming its foundation. It should be possible on both sides to meet each other’s expectations, and then physical intimacy would have its special significance in love. In cases where physical intimacy becomes ruled out or not possible through choice, actual love would not be ruled out. Actual love would be to be identified through the mix created between the two.
