The Triangular Theory of Love: Exploring Different Forms of Love
Love is one of the most exhilarating and mysterious experiences in life. Songs, movies, and books all tell us that falling in love is the best thing that can happen to a person. But what really lies behind this emotion? What types do we encounter in our daily lives, and how are they formed?
American psychologist Robert Sternberg, the founder of the Triangular Theory of Love, identified three key components that make up love: Intimacy, Passion, and Commitment. Different combinations of these components create various forms of love, each of which we can experience in our lives.
Let’s delve deeper into the kinds of relationships that can arise from this theory:
- Empty Love – Relationships that consist solely of commitment. This is common in long-term marriages where passion and intimacy have faded.
- Companionate Love – Formed from a blend of intimacy and commitment. A good example is a close friendship where old friends can rely on each other no matter what.
- Fatuous Love – An intense combination of passion and commitment without intimacy. These relationships can be powerful and irresistible, but they often lead to disappointment and pain.
- Consummate Love – A perfect blend of all three components: intimacy, passion, and commitment. This is the ideal many couples strive for, but it is challenging to achieve and maintain.
- Non-Love – When none of the three components are present in a relationship.
To better understand how these forms of love manifest in real life, let’s look at a few examples.
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Romantic Love – This includes both intimacy and passion. For instance, when young people start dating and feel a strong attraction and emotional closeness, but aren’t ready for serious commitments yet.
Friendship love, as previously mentioned, is a blend of closeness and commitment—like when two friends, who’ve known each other for years, continue to maintain a warm bond, even if they live in different cities and don’t see each other often.
In contrast, the term “infatuation” typically describes a situation driven solely by passion. This might occur when someone feels an overwhelming physical attraction to another person but lacks deep emotional connections or commitments.
Given this, it’s evident that types of love can evolve over time. A graphical representation known as the “Love Triangle” provides an excellent illustration of these changes, showing how people might shift between different points on the triangle:
Therefore, understanding these components of love and their dynamic nature helps us better comprehend our own relationships and strive to make them deeper and more meaningful. After all, no form of love is static. People can and should grow in their feelings, nurturing and strengthening relationships for true happiness and harmony.
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