The Catholic Book Club discussion

5. How does affection differ from the other loves?

I found this chapter challenging; maybe I don't understand his objective or main point. He seems to talk mostly about distortions of affection, like the mother who keeps her children dependent on her by guilt.
I also don't think what animals have for their young is "affection" in the same sense that humans have. Surely there's some element of reason involved, not just instinct.

In all the types of love he discusses how the love can be distorted if taken too far.

Regarding affection, in addition to discussing the ways in which affection can go wrong, he also makes the following points:

-Contrary to Friendship and Eros, where we choose our friends and lover, Affection is born towards the people who surround us without our choice (family, classmates, colleagues).

-Friendship and Eros start with our appreciation of the qualities of another. In Affection, appreciation grows out later, from familiarity.

-Following from the previous, through Affection we learn to love others for themselves, even if they are not 'to our taste'.

-Affection grows also towards our Friends and Lover and becomes the underlying fabric sustaining those loves.