Sternberg's Theory of Love: Intimacy, Commitment, Passion

Psych2Go

29 Oct 201704:51

Summary

TLDRRobert Sternberg's Triangular Theory of Love, introduced in 1985, breaks down love into three key components: intimacy, passion, and commitment. It outlines six types of love based on these elements, ranging from nonlove to consummate love, which is the ideal form with all components present. The theory suggests that maintaining consummate love is challenging and not permanent. It invites viewers to consider additional factors affecting relationships and whether the forms of love are universal or subjective.

Takeaways

📚 Robert Sternberg introduced the 'Triangular Theory of Love' in 1985, aiming to explain the complexities of love through three core components.
❤️ The three components of love are intimacy, passion, and commitment, each representing a different aspect of interpersonal relationships.
🔍 Intimacy is the feeling of attachment and closeness, essential for emotional bonding in relationships.
🔥 Passion encompasses the intense emotions and desires associated with romantic and sexual attraction.
💍 Commitment involves the decision to stay together and make future plans, binding the other two components.
🚫 Nonlove is the absence of all three components, often seen in casual interactions and acquaintances.
👫 Friendship is characterized by the presence of intimacy alone, without passion or commitment.
💘 Infatuated Love occurs with passion but lacks intimacy and commitment, often seen in crushes and purely sexual relationships.
💔 Empty Love is marked by the presence of commitment but the absence of intimacy and passion, like in unhappy marriages.
💞 Romantic Love combines intimacy and passion but lacks commitment, making it easier to dissolve.
👪 Companionate Love is defined by intimacy and commitment without passion, common in long-term marriages and strong platonic relationships.
💫 Fatuous Love is a whirlwind of romance with commitment and passion but no intimacy, often short-lived.
💖 Consummate Love is the ideal form of love where all three components are present, representing the goal for many in relationships.
🌐 The theory suggests that the forms of love may not be universal and could be subject to cultural and individual differences.
🤔 Sternberg's theory prompts reflection on other factors that may influence relationships, beyond the three components outlined.

Q & A

What is the 'Triangular Theory of Love' presented by Robert Sternberg?
-The 'Triangular Theory of Love' is a theory by Robert Sternberg that explains love through three components: intimacy, passion, and commitment. It is often represented as a triangle, with each side of the triangle representing one of these components.
What does intimacy represent in Sternberg's theory?
-Intimacy in Sternberg's theory represents the feeling of attachment, closeness, and connectedness in a relationship.
How is passion defined in the context of Sternberg's Theory of Love?
-Passion, according to Sternberg, is the fiery depth and intenseness experienced when you like someone, including the drive connected to romantic and sexual attraction.
What role does commitment play in Sternberg's model of love?
-Commitment ties the other two components, intimacy and passion, together. It involves short-term and long-term decisions to remain with one another and plan for the future.
How many forms of love does Sternberg's Theory of Love identify?
-Sternberg's Theory of Love identifies six forms of love, which are different combinations of the three components: intimacy, passion, and commitment.
What is meant by 'Nonlove' in Sternberg's theory?
-'Nonlove' in Sternberg's theory is the absence of all three components of love: intimacy, passion, and commitment. It characterizes most casual interactions and relationships without deep emotional bonds.
Can you explain 'Friendship' as a form of love in Sternberg's theory?
-'Friendship' in Sternberg's theory exists when only intimacy is present, without the intense passion or commitment of romance. It can be the root for other forms of love to develop from.
What is 'Infatuated Love' and what are its characteristics?
-'Infatuated Love' occurs when there is passion but both intimacy and commitment are absent. It is often characterized by crushes and solely sexual relationships that lack deeper emotional connections.
What is 'Empty Love' and how does it differ from other forms?
-'Empty Love' is characterized by the presence of commitment but the absence of intimacy and passion. It is often seen in unhappy marriages where the emotional and romantic aspects have faded.
How is 'Romantic Love' different from 'Infatuated Love'?
-'Romantic Love' is a combination of intimacy and passion but lacks commitment. It involves both physical and emotional bonds but is easier to dissolve without legal issues.
What is 'Companionate Love' and how does it manifest in relationships?
-'Companionate Love' is characterized by a combination of intimacy and commitment, with the absence of passion. It is observed in long-term marriages and strong platonic relationships where affection remains despite the lack of intense passion.
Can you describe 'Fatuous Love' and provide an example?
-'Fatuous Love' is the combination of commitment and passion without intimacy. An example is the whirlwind romance and subsequent short-lived marriage of Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries.
What is 'Consummate Love' and why is it considered the ideal form of love?
-'Consummate Love' is at the center of the triangle, representing the presence of all three components: intimacy, passion, and commitment. It is considered the ideal form of love as it combines all aspects of a fulfilling relationship.
What does Sternberg caution about maintaining 'Consummate Love'?
-Sternberg cautions that maintaining 'Consummate Love' is harder than achieving it, and it is not a permanent form of love, implying that effort and work are required to sustain this ideal form of love.
Do you think the six forms of love are universal or subjective to each couple?
-This is a subjective question and opinions may vary. Some may argue that the forms are universal, while others may believe that each couple's experience and definition of love can be unique.

Outlines

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💞 Sternberg's Triangular Theory of Love

Robert Sternberg introduced the Triangular Theory of Love in 1985, which breaks down love into three fundamental components: intimacy, passion, and commitment. Intimacy is the sense of closeness and attachment, passion is the intense feeling and desire associated with romantic and sexual attraction, and commitment involves the decision to stay together and plan a future. Sternberg's theory outlines six different forms of love based on various combinations of these components, ranging from Nonlove, which lacks all components, to Consummate Love, where all three are present, representing the ideal form of love.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Triangular Theory of Love

The Triangular Theory of Love, also known as Sternberg's Theory of Love, is a psychological theory that defines love as a combination of three components: intimacy, passion, and commitment. It is central to the video's theme as it provides a framework for understanding different types of love. The theory is used to explain the six forms of love that are discussed throughout the script.

💡Intimacy

Intimacy, within the context of Sternberg's theory, refers to the feeling of closeness, attachment, and emotional connectedness in a relationship. It is one of the three core components of love and is essential for forming deep bonds. In the script, intimacy is mentioned as a part of various forms of love, such as friendship and romantic love.

💡Passion

Passion in the script denotes the intense emotional and physical attraction one feels towards another person. It is characterized by the excitement and desire that fuels romantic and sexual relationships. The concept of passion is integral to the theory as it differentiates infatuated love from other forms, such as empty love, where passion is absent despite commitment.

💡Commitment

Commitment is the decision and promise to stay in a relationship and work towards a shared future. It involves both short-term and long-term dedication. In the video, commitment is a key element that, when combined with intimacy and passion, forms the different types of love, including consummate love, which is the ideal form according to Sternberg.

💡Nonlove

Nonlove, as described in the script, is the absence of all three components of love—intimacy, passion, and commitment. It characterizes relationships that are casual and without emotional depth, such as acquaintances. Nonlove serves as a baseline against which the other forms of love are contrasted.

💡Friendship

Friendship, in the context of the video, is a form of love that exists solely with the presence of intimacy and without passion or commitment. It represents the affectionate bonds that can potentially develop into romantic love. The script uses friendship as an example of a relationship that is based on closeness without the intensity of romantic or sexual attraction.

💡Infatuated Love

Infatuated love is a form of love characterized by passion without intimacy or commitment. It is often associated with crushes and purely physical relationships. The script illustrates infatuated love as a fleeting experience that can fade if not deepened by emotional closeness and a decision to stay together.

💡Empty Love

Empty love is characterized by the presence of commitment but the absence of intimacy and passion. The script cites an unhappy marriage as an example, where the legal bond remains but the emotional and physical connection has vanished. It represents a relationship that has lost its initial love but still continues due to commitment.

💡Romantic Love

Romantic love, as discussed in the script, is a combination of intimacy and passion without commitment. It involves deep emotional and physical bonds but lacks the decision to remain together indefinitely. The script mentions that romantic love is common and can be a precursor to marriage, yet it is more easily dissolved.

💡Companionate Love

Companionate love is defined by the presence of intimacy and commitment but without passion. The script describes it as a strong bond often found in long-term marriages where partners remain in love through affection rather than intense passion. It also extends to close friendships and family relationships that are marked by loyalty and deep understanding.

💡Fatuous Love

Fatuous love is a form of love that combines commitment and passion but lacks intimacy. The script uses the example of a whirlwind romance, such as Kim Kardashian's short-lived marriage to Kris Humphries, to illustrate this type of love. It represents a relationship that may start with intense attraction and a decision to commit but lacks the emotional closeness necessary for long-term stability.

💡Consummate Love

Consummate love is the ideal form of love according to Sternberg's theory, where all three components—intimacy, passion, and commitment—are present. The script positions consummate love as the ultimate goal in relationships, where partners are not only deeply connected emotionally and physically but also fully committed to each other. It is described as a relationship that is both fulfilling and enduring, yet challenging to maintain.

Highlights

Robert Sternberg introduced the Triangular Theory of Love in 1985.

The theory identifies three core components of love: intimacy, passion, and commitment.

Intimacy is characterized by feelings of attachment, closeness, and connectedness.

Passion represents the intense romantic and sexual attraction experienced in a relationship.

Commitment involves the decision to remain with a partner and plan for the future.

Nonlove is the absence of all three components of love.

Friendship is a type of love characterized solely by intimacy.

Infatuated Love is marked by passion without intimacy or commitment.

Empty Love is a relationship with commitment but lacking intimacy and passion.

Romantic Love combines intimacy and passion but lacks commitment.

Companionate Love is defined by intimacy and commitment without passion.

Fatuous Love involves commitment and passion but is devoid of intimacy.

Consummate Love is the ideal form of love with all three components present.

Maintaining Consummate Love is more challenging than achieving it.

The six forms of love may not be universal and could be subjective to each couple.

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