Abstract

Education for “life” has transformed into education for “living” in recent years. Institutions of higher education, due to economic realities, have turned into vocational institutions. Instant gratification and individualistic mentality have afflicted societies from West to East. Due to the vocational nature of institutes of higher education, courses in humanities, language, art, and other fundamental courses which give students a broader perspective on the world at large have been reduced to a bare minimum or have been eliminated altogether. The topic of love is deemed inappropriate for discussion in college classes. As a result, every year many college graduates enter the job market with advanced technical knowledge but with inadequate knowledge of self and others, self-love and love for others. This study sought to explore perceptions of love by nursing students and their perspectives on the importance of teaching love in college classes.