Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Love Never Fades

  • Chapter
Book cover The Basics of Caring Research

Part of the book series: Bold Visions in Educational Research ((BVER))

  • 262 Accesses

Abstract

Love is an important resource in human beings’ lives. Still, love in old age causes prejudices and paradoxical feelings even though emotions and the ability to love do not disappear along aging. The research on love has concentrated on adolescence; and thus, senior citizens’ love has remained in the shadow. The aim of this chapter is to describe how the older people describe their experiences of falling in love.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Alberoni, F. (1979). Falling in love and loving. Milano: Garzanti.

    Google Scholar 

  • Alterovitz, S., & Mendelsohn, G. A. (2009). Partner preferences across the life span: Online dating by older adults. Psychology and Aging, 24(2), 513–517. doi:10.1037/a0015897

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Angner, E., Ray, M. N., Saag, K. G., & Allison, J. J. (2009). Health and happiness among older adults. Journal of Health Psychology, 14(4), 503–512. doi:10.1177/1359105309103570

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Askew, M. (1965). Courtly love: Neurosis as institution. Psychoanalytic Review, 52, 19–29.

    Google Scholar 

  • Benyamini, Y., Idler, E. L., Leventhal, H., & Leventhal, A. A. (2000). Positive affect and function as influences on self-assessment of health. Expanding our view beyond illness and disability. The Journal of Gerontology: Series B, 55(2), 107–116.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bergman, M. (1995). On love and its enemies. Psychoanalytic Review, 821, 1–19.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bergman, M. S. (1988). Freud’s three theories of love in the light of later developments. Journal of American Psychoanalytic Association, 36(3), 653–672. doi:10.1177/000306518803600304

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Berscheid, E., & Reis, H. T. (1998). Attraction and close relationships. In S. Fiske (Ed.), Handbook of social psychology (pp. 193–281). New York, NY: Addison-Wesley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bevan, C. (2001). An aging society issues and challenges. Australian Journal on Ageing, 20(2), 15–22. doi:10.1111/j.1741-6612.2001.tb00394.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brown, B. B., Feiring, C., & Furman, W. (1999). Missing the love boat: Why researchers have shied away from adolescent romance. In W. Furman, B. B. Brown, & C. Feiring (Eds.), The development of romantic relationships in adolescence (pp. 1–16). New York, NY: Cambridge University Press.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Carr, E. G. (2007). The expanding vision of positive behavior support. Research perspectives on happiness, helpfulness, hopefulness. Journal of Positive Behavior Interventions, 9(1), 3–14. doi:10.1177/10983007070090010201

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Coffey, A., & Atkinson, P. (1996). Making sense of qualitative data analysis: Complementary strategies. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Coleman, S. (1977). A developmental stage hypothesis for nonmarital dyadic relationships. Journal of Marriage and Family Counselling, 3, 71–76.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Collins, W. A. (2003). More than myth: The developmental significance of romantic relationships during adolescence. Journal of Research on Adolescence, 13(1), 1–24. doi:10.1111/1532-7795.1301001

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Connolly, J., Craig, W., Goldberg, A., & Pepler, D. (2004). Mixed-gender group, dating and romantic relationships in early adolescence. Journal of Research on Adolescence, 14(2), 185–207. doi:10.1111/j.1532-7795.2004.01402003.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • DeLamater, J., & Moorman, S. M. (2007). Sexual behaviour in later life. Journal of Aging and Health, 19(6), 921–945. doi:10.1177/0898264307308342

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • DeVoe, S. E., & Pfeffer, J. (2009). When is happiness about how much you earn? The effect of hourly payment on the money—happiness connection. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 35(12), 1602–1618. doi:10.1177/0146167209346304

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Diener, E., & Seligman, M. E. P. (2004). Beyond money. Toward an economy of well-being. Psychological Science, 5(1), 1–31.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dion, K., & Dion, K. (1973). Correlates of romantic love. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 41, 51–56.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fenchel, G. H. (2005). What is love? Issues in Psychoanalytic Psychology, 27(1), 49–67.

    Google Scholar 

  • Freund, A. M., & Riediger, M. (2003). Successful aging. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Gekoski, W. L., & Know, V. J. (1990). Ageism or healthism? Perceptions based on age and health status. Journal of Aging and Health, 2(1), 15–27.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Girard, R. (1972). La violence et le sacre. Paris: Grasset.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gordon, A. M. (2008). I love you madly: On passion, personality, and personal growth. New York, NY: IAPT Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gordon, A. M., & Chen, S. (2010). When you accept me for me: The relational benefits of intrinsic affirmations from one’s relationship partner. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 36(11), 1439–1453. doi:10.1177/0146167210384881

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hatfield, E. (1988). Passionate and companionate love. In R. Sternberg & M. Barnes (Eds.), The psychology of love (pp. 191–217). New Haven, MA: Yale University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hegi, K. E., & Bergner, R. M. (2010). What is love? An empirically-based essentialist account. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 27, 620–636. doi:10.1177/0265407510369605

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ikels, C., Keith, J., Dickerson-Putman, J., Draper, P., Fry, C., Glascock, A., & Harpending, H. (2008). Perceptions of the adult life course: A cross-cultural analysis. Ageing and Society, 12, 49–84. doi:10.1017/S0144686X00004669

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Irigaray, L. (1982). Passions élémentaires. Paris: Les Èdotopms de Minuit.

    Google Scholar 

  • Katz, S. (2000). Busy bodies: Activity, aging, and the management of everyday life. Journal of Aging Studies, 14(2), 135–152. doi:10.1016/S0890-4065(00)80008-0

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kernberg, O. (1977). Boundaries and structure in love relations. Journal of the American Psychoanalytic Association, 25, 81–114.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kilpatrick, W. (1974). The demythologizing of love. Adolescence, 33, 25–30.

    Google Scholar 

  • Krause, N. (2011). Close companions at church, health, and health care use in late life. Journal of Aging and Health, 22(4), 434–453. doi:10.1177/0898264309359537

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lane, B. (1964). Attitudes of youth toward aged. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 26, 229–231.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lang, F. R., & Fingerman, K. L. (Eds.). (2004). Growing together. Personal relationships across the lifespan. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lawton, M. P., Winter, L., Kleban, M. H., & Ruckdeschel, K. (1999). Affect and quality of life. Objective and subjective. Journal of Aging and Health, 11(2), 169–198.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maas, H. S., & Kuypers, J. A. (Eds.). (1974). From thirty to seventy. A forty-year longitudinal study of adult life styles and personality. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.

    Google Scholar 

  • Määttä, K. (2005). Seniorirakkaus [The love in later life]. Juva: WSOY.

    Google Scholar 

  • Määttä, K. (2006). Rakastumisen lumous [The Fascination of falling in love]. Juva: WSOY.

    Google Scholar 

  • Määttä, K. (2010). How to learn to guide the young to love. Educational Sciences and Psychology, 2(17), 47–53.

    Google Scholar 

  • Magai, C., Consedine, N. S., Fiori, K. L., & King, A. R. (2009). Sharing the good, sharing the bad: The benefits of emotional self-disclosure among middle-aged an older adults. Journal of Aging and Health, 21(2), 286–313. doi:10.1177/0898264308328980

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Miles, M. B., & Huberman, A. M. (1994). Qualitative data analysis: An expanded sourcebook. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Murray, S. L., Holmes, J. G., Griffin, D. W., Bellavia, G., & Rose, P. (2001). The mismeasure of love: How self-doubt contaminates relationships beliefs. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 27(4), 423–436. doi:10.1177/0146167201274004

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Murrel, S., Salsman, N. L., & Meeks, S. (2003). Educational attainment, positive psychological mediators, and resources for health and vitality in older adults. Journal of Aging and Health, 15(4), 591–615.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Oishi, S., Diener, E., & Lucas, R. E. (2007). The optimum level of well-being: Can people be too happy? Perspectives on Psychological Science, 2(4), 346–360. doi:10.1111/j.1745-6916.2007.00048.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pines, A. M. (1999). Falling in love: Why we choose the lovers we choose. New York, NY: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Prieto-Flores, M. E., Forjaz, M. J., Fernandez-Mayoralas, G., Rojo-Perez, F., & Martinez-Martin, P. (2011). Factors associated with loneliness of noninstitutionalized and institutionalized older adults. Journal of Aging and Health, 23(1), 177–194. doi:10.1177/0898264310382658

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reis, H. T., & Rusbult, C. E. (Eds.). (2004). Close relationships. Key readings. New York, NY: Psychology Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rentsch, T. (1997). Aging as becoming oneself: A philosophical ethics of late life. Journal of Aging Studies, 11(4), 263–271.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Riela, S., Rodriguez, G., Aron, A., Xu, X., & Acavedo, B. P. (2010). Experiences of falling in love: Investigating culture, ethnicity, gender, and speed. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 27(4), 473–493. doi:10.1177/0265407510363508

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ron, P. (2001). Elderly people’s attitudes and perceptions of aging and old age: The role of cognitive dissonance? International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 22, 656–662. doi:10.1002/gps.1726

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rothermund, K., & Brandstädter, J. (2003). Age stereotypes and self-views in later life: Evaluating rival assumptions. International Journal of Behavioral Development, 27(6), 549–554.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rousseau, J. J. (2010/1782). Yksinäisen kulkijan mietteitä [Les rêveries du promeneur solitaire, 1782]. (E. Salo, Trans.). Tampere: Vastapaino.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schnitker, J. (2007). Look (closely) at all the lonely people: Age and the social psychology of social support. Journal of Aging and Health, 19(4), 659–682. doi:10.1177/0898264307301178

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schulz, R. (1982). Emotionality and aging: A theoretical and empirical analysis. The Journal of Gerontology, 37(1), 42–51.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sherrard, C. A. (2008). Elderly wellbeing and the psychology of social comparison. Ageing and Society, 14, 341–356. doi:10.1017/S0144686X00001628

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Silverman, D. (2005). Doing qualitative research: A practical handbook. London: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Silverstein, M., & Giarrusso, R. (2010). Aging and family life: A decade review. Journal of Marriage and Family, 72(5), 1039–1058. doi:10.1111/j.1741-3737.2010.00749.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stendhal, H. (1980/1957). De l´amour. Paris: Le Dican.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stock, A. A., Okun, M. A., & Benin, M. (1986). Structure of subjective wellbeing among the elderly. Psychology and Aging, 1(2), 91–102.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tennov, D. (1979). Love and limerence: The experience of being in love. New York, NY: Stein & Day.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thompson, P. (1992). I don’t feel old: Subjective ageing and the search for meaning in later life. Ageing and Society, 12, 23–47. doi:10.1017/S0144686X00004657

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tibbitts, C., & Donahue, W. (Eds.). (1962). Social and psychological aspects of aging. New York, NY: Columbia University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Watson, W. K., Bell, N. J., & Stelle, C. (2010). Women narrate later life remarriage: Negotiating the culture to create the personal. Journal of Aging Studies, 24(4), 302–312. doi:10.1016/j.jaging.2010.07.002

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • White, M. P., & Dolan, P. (2009). Accounting for the richness of daily activities. Psychological Science, 20(8), 1000–1008. doi:10.1111/j.1467-9280.2009.02392.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zender, R., & Olshansky, E. (2009). Promoting wellness in women across the life span. Nursing Clinics of North America, 44(3), 281–291. doi:10.1016/j.cnur.2009.06.009

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Authors
  1. Kaarina Määttä
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Lapland, Finland

    Satu Uusiautti

  2. University of Lapland, Finland

    Kaarina Määttä

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2016 Sense Publishers

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Määttä, K. (2016). Love Never Fades. In: Uusiautti, S., Määttä, K. (eds) The Basics of Caring Research. Bold Visions in Educational Research. SensePublishers, Rotterdam. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-6300-597-5_4

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-6300-597-5_4

  • Publisher Name: SensePublishers, Rotterdam

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-6300-597-5

  • eBook Packages: EducationEducation (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation