Are Public Displays of Affection Your Thing?

"For some people, love doesn't exist unless you acknowledge it in front of other people," George Lopez's character said in the 2010 film, "Valentine's Day."

You've seen these people. She sits on his lap instead of her own seat at a restaurant. He has to put his hand in her back pocket at Six Flags Great America. They kiss on park benches and say goodbye a million times before they go to class. They lay near each other at the lakefront and take a million pictures in front of the Buckingham Fountain. You'll even see these two copping a feel on the Red Line headed into The Loop on their way to work. And your significant other just doesn't understand why you can't be one of those people who loves public displays of affection (PDA).

For those of you who feel like affection should only be shown in the privacy of your own home, you may have a tough time with someone who loves to hug, cuddle, kiss and hold hands in public. When he reaches out his hand, you tell him, "This is not a field trip! Why do we have to hold hands?" And although you may think it's annoying that this person always wants to let other's know you two are together, take into consideration that everybody who likes PDA isn't doing it for arrogant or insecure reasons.

What's the big deal about PDA?

Public displays of affection aren't always meant to alert everybody within seeing distance that you two are together. Some people just like physical attention. They feel like you two are just buddies if you're walking down the street without your arms wrapped around each other's backs or with your fingers dancing together. Take it as a compliment that this person wants to be near you. Try to think of it from the affectionate person's perspective. Your lack of attention in public is equal to that person denying you attention in private. You may feel location is the make or break decision in where to be affectionate. Your PDA partner feels it's the timing.

So how do you meet in the middle?

Be honest with your partner and let her know that you're not so comfortable with PDA but be willing to compromise. If you can't handle long kissing scenes with other people being able to see you two, imagine the crowds aren't there. It's really only you two kissing so why should you care what other people think? If kissing just won't work, try a hug here and there so your PDA partner doesn't feel neglected. Try linking arms if you don't want to hold hands or at least let your PDA partner touch the elbow area of your shirt. If you weren't raised in a household where affection was shown in private or public, let your partner know this immediately so your PDA partner will be aware that this may be new to you and not to take it too personal.

With a PDA partner, you never want him or her to feel you're not into this person. By this person needing attention and affection so much, once he or she feels like The Friend Zone door has been opened, it's difficult to get that PDA partner back. If you really want to keep this partner around, you might have to drop your guard a little.