Yes it is a negative viewpoint, one that I have witnessed none the less. I know couples also where it is evident. In fact I worked with a couple lately, who admitted that the wife loved the husband more than he loved her, never the less he said he loved her. He did cheat on her but that's a whole other story
Here’s the thing Glenjo99, you and he are not a couple. And I personally think the longer you hold onto that notion and continue to put him into that kind of category with you, you are never going to get beyond this and reach healthy ground.