A Preliminary Study of the Emotion of Love between the SexesBell, Sanford
Science
A Preliminary Study of the Emotion of Love between the Sexes
Bell, Sanford
Child psychology; Love
Case 5. The last year I taught there were two little boys,
Lambert, aged seven, and Frank, aged six, who fell in love with
me. Lambert was very demonstrative when alone with me or when
only grown folks were around, but did nothing in the presence of
his schoolmates. He would put his arms around me, kiss me, and
was very happy when he could sit on my lap. He gave me very few
presents, but dearly loved to be with me, and often asked me to
wait until he grew up so that he could marry me. He very
frequently told me how much he loved me, and would ask me if I
loved him, and if so whether I loved him more than I did others.
Frank was very bashful, and though he would stay near me, would
never come very close. He would watch my actions very closely,
and tried to please me in every particular. Nearly every day in
spring he would bring me a bouquet either of wild or tame
flowers. Quite frequently he brought me fruit. If he had only one
apple or banana he was never satisfied until I had taken a bite.
Case 6. A boy about ten years old loved a young lady of twenty
during two years. Jealousy conspicuous. Expressions of love in
the giving of small gifts, such as fruit, flowers, etc. Actions
of the boy quite free and gallant in the presence of others. No
tendency to withhold demonstrations and be satisfied with love at
a distance. On the contrary, he seemed to seize every opportunity
to show the lady attention. At about twelve years of age the boy
began to hate her as extremely as he had formerly loved her.
Case 7. A little girl three years of age claimed me as her lover.
Whenever I called on her parents she rushed to me and wanted me
to hug and kiss her, and was never backward in doing her part. If
at any time I did not notice her solicitations she would turn
away from me and, going to some remote corner of the room, would
cry as if her little heart would break. Jealousy was very
prominent in her.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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