When most people think about love, they think of romance and significant others and dates; however, love doesn’t have just to be romance and significant others. While highly underestimated and overlooked, platonic love is just as important. 

Platonic love, also known as “philia,” is having a deep love, affection, or fondness for one’s friend. It is a type of love lacking romantic or sexual attraction and most commonly occurs between friends and family. 

“It can be the love between lovers when they’ve been together for a long time and are not so hot and bothered anymore,” former University of Utah professor Kirtly Parker Jones said. “It’s also called brotherly love […] Of course, it could be sisterly love and it is the accepting love of good friendship.”

Platonic love is often overlooked when it comes to types of love; however, it can be one of, if not the most important, types of love. While it lacks the passion of romantic love, it can still have the same strength, and perhaps even more.

“The philia touch lowers blood pressure,” Jones said. “People in loving relationships, philia love, have fewer doctor visits, shorter hospital visits, have less pain, and have more positive emotions.”

Platonic love is incredibly important, not just for the physical help it provides, but also for the help it gives others. Everyone has friends, even if it might just be an acquaintance or a coworker, which means everyone has some kind of friendship. Therefore, everyone can produce and show platonic love. 

“Honestly, my friends are some of the most important people in my life,” sophomore Nadia Arellano said. “They’ve gotten me through so much and I love them so much for it. 

Platonic love is also easy to show, maybe even easier than that of romance. Platonic love doesn’t require a grand display expensive gift or night out. Showing love to your friends can be as simple and easy as reaching out to them and having a conversation, being supportive when they’re struggling, and being open and trustworthy. 

“I like giving my friends things as gifts,” senior Rabiha Othman said. “It’s easy because I don’t have to think very hard about it and can just give them a rock and they’d appreciate it.”