Affection#Affectionism

File:Affection LCCN2003670229.tif

Affection or fondness is a "disposition or state of mind or body"{{cite web |url=https://www.dictionary.com/browse/affection |title=Affection |website=Dictionary.com |access-date=19 November 2017}} commonly linked to a feeling or type of love. It has led to multiple branches in philosophy and psychology that discuss emotion, disease, influence, and state of being.{{cite web |url=https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/emotions-17th18th/LD7Hutcheson.html |title=Francis Hutcheson on the Emotions|series=17th and 18th Century Theories of Emotions |website=Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy |access-date=19 November 2017}} Often, "affection" denotes more than mere goodwill or friendship. Writers on ethics generally use the word to refer to distinct states of feeling, both lasting and temporary. Some contrast it with passion as being free from the distinctively sensual element.{{EB1911|inline=1|wstitle=Affection|volume=1|pages=299–300}}

Affection can elicit diverse emotional reactions such as embarrassment, disgust, pleasure, and annoyance. The emotional and physical effect of affection also varies between the giver and the receiver.{{Cite web |title = The Effects of Affection |url = https://researchmatters.asu.edu/stories/effects-affection-960 |website = Research Matters |access-date = 2015-08-30}}{{Cite web |date=February 14, 2007 |title=The effects of affection |url=https://news.asu.edu/content/effects-affection |website=ASU News}}

Restricted definition

File:Smooches (baby and child kiss).jpg

Sometimes the term is restricted to emotional states directed towards living entities, including humans and animals. Affection is often compared with passion,{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=94G2AgAAQBAJ&q=affection+vs+passion&pg=PA1 |title=Cuba and the Politics of Passion |first=Damián J. |last=Fernández |date=1 January 2010 |publisher=University of Texas Press |access-date=19 November 2017 |via=Google Books |isbn=9780292782020}} stemming from the Greek word {{transliteration|grc|pathos}}. Consequently, references to affection are found in the works of philosophers such as René Descartes,{{cite web |author=Descartes |first=René |title=The Passions of the Soul |url=https://www.earlymoderntexts.com/assets/pdfs/descartes1649part2.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://www.earlymoderntexts.com/assets/pdfs/descartes1649part2.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |access-date=19 November 2017 |website=Early Modern Philosophy}} Baruch Spinoza,{{cite book |chapter-url=https://plato.stanford.edu/archives/spr2015/entries/spinoza-psychological/ |chapter=Spinoza's Psychological Theory |first=Michael |last=LeBuffe |editor-first=Edward N. |editor-last=Zalta |date=19 November 2017 |title=The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy |publisher=Metaphysics Research Lab, Stanford University |access-date=19 November 2017}} and early British ethicists. Despite these associations, it is commonly differentiated from passion on various grounds. Some definitions of affection exclude feelings of anxiety or heightened excitement, elements typically linked to passion. In this narrower context, the term holds significance in ethical frameworks, particularly concerning social or parental affections, forming a facet of moral duties and virtue. Ethical perspectives may hinge on whether affection is perceived as voluntary.{{cite web |last=Sidgwick|first=Henry|url=http://www.earlymoderntexts.com/assets/pdfs/sidgwick1874book4.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://www.earlymoderntexts.com/assets/pdfs/sidgwick1874book4.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live |title=The Methods of Ethics |website=Early Modern Philosophy |access-date=19 November 2017}}

Expression

Affection can be communicated by looks, words, gestures, or touches. It conveys love and social connection. The five love languages explains how couples can communicate affections to each other.{{Cite web |last=David O. |first=Oduse |title=Understanding The Five Love Languages And How It Affects Your Relationships |url=https://www.datingreporter.com.ng/2021/02/understanding-the-five-love-languages.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210410135822/https://www.datingreporter.com.ng/2021/02/understanding-the-five-love-languages.html |archive-date=2021-04-10 |access-date=2021-02-27 |website=Dating Reporter's Blog |language=en-US}} Affectionate behavior may have evolved from parental nurturing behavior due to its associations with hormonal rewards.{{cite book | first1=Kory | last1=Floyd | first2=Colin | last2=Hesse | first3=Generous | last3=Mark A. | chapter=Affection exchange theory: A bio-evolutionary look at affectionate communication | editor-last=Braithwaite | editor-first=Dawn | title=Engaging theories in interpersonal communication: multiple perspectives | edition=3rd | publisher=Routledge | publication-place=New York, NY | year=2021 | isbn=978-1-003-19551-1 | oclc=1248603023 | page=}}{{Verify source|date=March 2022|reason=The chapter may not be correctly summarised here.}} Such affection has been shown to influence brain development in infants, especially their biochemical systems and prefrontal development.{{Cite book |last=Gerhardt |first=Sue |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uDCDBAAAQBAJ |title=Why love matters : how affection shapes a baby's brain |date=24 October 2014 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-317-63579-6 |oclc=883460873}}

Affectionate gestures can become undesirable if they insinuate potential harm to one's welfare. However, when welcomed, such behavior can offer several health benefits.{{clarify|reason=to whom?|date=August 2023}} Some theories suggest that positive sentiments enhance individuals' inclination to engage socially, and the sense of closeness fostered by affection contributes to nurturing positive sentiments among them.{{cite journal |author=Lawton |first1=Leora |last2=Silverstein |first2=Merril |last3=Bengtson |first3=Vern |date=Feb 1994 |title=Affection, Social Contact, and Geographic Distance between Adult Children and Their Parents |url=http://www.techsociety.com/articles/JMF_Lawtonetal.pdf |url-status=dead|journal=Journal of Marriage and the Family |volume=56 |pages=57–68 |doi=10.2307/352701 |jstor=352701 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120316162825/http://www.techsociety.com/articles/JMF_Lawtonetal.pdf |archive-date=2012-03-16 |number=1}}

=Benefits of affection=

Affection exchange is an adaptive human behavior that benefits well-being. Expressing affection brings emotional, physical, and relational gains for people and their close connections. Sharing positive emotions yields health advantages like reduced stress hormones, lower cholesterol, lower blood pressure, and a stronger immune system.{{cite web |author=Boudreau |first=Diane |date=February 8, 2013 |title=Study: Expressing love can improve your health |url=https://asunow.asu.edu/content/study-expressing-love-can-improve-your-health |website=ASU News}} Expressing affection, not merely feeling affection, is internally rewarding. Even if not reciprocated, givers still experience its effects.

=Parental relationships=

Affectionate behavior is frequently considered{{By whom|date=July 2023}} an outcome of parental nurturing, tied to hormonal rewards. Both positive and negative parental actions may {{Vague|text=have connections to|date=August 2023}} health issues in later life. Neglect and abuse result in poorer well-being and mental health, contrasting with affection's positive effects. A 2013 study highlighted the impact of early child abuse and lack of affection on physical health.{{cite web |author=Rivero |first=Enrique |date=September 30, 2013 |title=Lack of parental warmth, abuse in childhood linked to multiple health risks in adulthood |url=https://newsroom.ucla.edu/releases/lack-of-parental-warmth-abuse-248580 |website=UCLA Newsroom}}

Affectionism

Affectionism is a school of thought that considers affections to be of central importance. Although it is not found in mainstream Western philosophy, it does exist in Indian philosophy.{{Cite book |author=Merrell-Wolff |first=Franklin |url=https://archive.org/details/transformationsi00merr |title=Transformations in Consciousness: The Metaphysics and Epistemology: Containing His Introceptualism |date=1995 |publisher=State University of New York Press |isbn=0-7914-2675-0 |page=45 |author-link=Franklin Merrell-Wolff |url-access=registration}}