10 uncomfortable truths about Valentine’s Day

In this article, ten aspects of Valentine's Day that won't leave you indifferent.

Many of us believe that February 14 is happily marked on the mental calendar of most people who have a requited love.

Despite this, Valentine's Day also has its drawbacks. There are many criticisms of the holiday based on gift buying. While most of these criticisms are based on morality, they are also based on psychology. from the field of psychology, it is easy to find reasons to relativize the virtues and sensations that are aroused by the and sensations that awaken in us during Valentine's Day.

10 aspects of Valentine's Day that will make you uncomfortable

Let's look at ten reasons why this day is actually a double-edged sword:

1. Valentine's Day is a mark on the calendar that makes you direct attention to a fundamental question: Do I have the partner I hope for? If I don't... what have I done wrong to not be able to celebrate this day? And the fact is that Valentine's Day is unique in making us raise the bar and, in fact, it is also making the bar itself appear out of nowhere to measure.

2. Is it really mandatory to buy this? Not only because of the high environmental cost of mass marketing roses, but because of the emotional dependency that consumerism can create. Let's face it, Valentine's Day is rooted in the tradition of giving things as gifts. Without such gifts, it becomes just another day. The question is: how much are we willing to spend on these gifts, and what needs do they meet?

3. Valentine's Day can precipitate a love breakup in couples in crisis, according to a 2004 study. It seems that this day can act as a catalyst for romantic relationships, making them more unstable and accentuating the problems that have been dragging on.

4. The gift also acts as a function of a personal calling card a psychological phenomenon that could be summarized as: "that's how fantastic I am and that's how great the gift I'm offering you is". Have you seen American Psycho? That's it.

5. Valentine's Day has another component of vanity. Giving gifts to a loved one may seem like an act born of the Heart and pure altruism, but it's really not at all. One study suggests that, for men, the main reason they give a gift is? obligation. And by far.

The same study mentioned above indicates that 25% of men expect something in return for the gift. expect something in return for the gift. 89% of those who buy lingerie, in fact, think of themselves. Well, well.

7. Valentine's Day, in conjunction with Father's Day and Mother's Day are ways to compartmentalize forms of love. compartmentalize forms of love. A love relationship that does not fit these definitions is less recognized, as if it must necessarily be of lesser importance.

8. Haven't we already said it? Valentine's Day has a "Saturday night" effectsocial pressure makes staying home and doing nothing depressing (and we all know that staying home in low spirits is a direct route to the fridge).

9. If you liked the movie Améliemovie Amélie, pay attention, because Valentine's Day is an attack against the philosophy of the small details of life. of life. Crossing the 24 hours of the day of lovers means crossing a kind of small Las Vegas where a lot of huge and bright signs encourage you to savor love at your own pace, freely and as you want.

10. Last but not least, this is a date that reminds you of your partner's questionable tastes. reminds you of your partner's questionable tastes when asking or when it comes to asking for or offering gifts. The Valentine's Day card industry is a mine of nonsense.

In short, it can be said that Valentine's Day is, like all the other days of the year, a time in our lives that we must learn to not to take too seriously.. Both for its shadows (the inability to fully live this day according to our expectations) and for its lights (the fact of believing that, unlike the rest of the days of the year, Valentine's Day crystallizes the essence of pure love). Let's get used to not letting social pressures narrate the way we have to live life next to someone special.