I recently read the book The Five Love Languages by Dr. Gary Chapman. This book has useful concepts for couples. Love languages are the ways individuals express loving connection to their partner. The five love languages are: compliments, quality time, gifts, chores, and touch. According to Dr. Chapman, individuals express loving connection toward their partner by either complimenting them, spending time with them, giving gifts, doing chores or physically touching them. There can be mismatches between how one expresses loving connection and how their partner experiences loving connection.

For example, a husband expresses his love by doing chores for his wife. The wife may not appreciate this if her primary love language is quality time—spending time together as a couple. If an individual expresses love in his or her preferred language but not in the language of the partner, loving affection may not be received. The premise of the book is that it is important to discover what a partner’s love language is and to express loving connection in that form so your message is received.