Find the scores closest to your three totals in the appropriate column below to determine the degree to which you experience each of these three components of love. Consummate love is the complete form of love, representing an ideal relationship toward which people strive. Love perhaps best can be seen as a sort of a prism looking at it in different ways reveals different faces of the same phenomenon. Yale psychologist sternberg provides an intelligible overview of theory and research on the psychology of heterosexual love. The three dimensions of love include passion, intimacy. Fatuous love is typified by a whirlwind courtship in which passion motivates a commitment without the stabilizing influence of intimacy. Empty love includes the commitment point of the triangle, but does not include passion or intimacy. According to robert sternberg 1997, commitment is in the shortterm the decision that one loves a certain other, and in the longterm, to ones commitment to maintain that love p. Chicago turabian author date citation style guide sternberg, robert j.
One of the more prominent concepts pertaining to love was proposed by robert j. Feb, 2012 when all three pillars of love combine into the perfect blend of intimacy, passion, and commitment, consummate love arises in what many feel is the best of all worlds. Models of healthy and unhealthy conflict in relationships are offered as well as suggestions for moving from unhealthy expressions of conflict to healthy ones. As i read through his research and studied the image of a triangle, i thought through. Robert sternbergs concepts in the triangular theory of love. The triangle of love intimacy, passion, commitment. Feb 01, 1992 predictions derived from sternbergs 1986 triangular theory of love were tested. In the context of interpersonal relationships, the three components of love, according to the triangular theory, are an intimacy component, a passion component, and a decision commitment component. Love, intimacy, and commitment 2423 words bartleby. These aspects may or may not appear in your romantic, platonic, or familial relationships.
Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me put it into practice. For example, one face of the prism might specify components of love, such as intimacy, passion and commitment. The triangle of courtesy hiking sign has a new friend. Consummate, or complete love, results from the full combination of all three components. The greater the amount of love, the greater the area of the triangle. According to this theory, love is made up of three components. This study aims at examining the psychometric properties of the chinese version of the intimacy, passion, and commitment scale ipcs, which measures the three components of love intimacy. Specifically, the problems centered around the measurement of the theorys three components of intimacy, passion, commitment. Five years later, it might be high in commitment, high in intimacy, and low in passion. For example, in the beginning a relationship might be high in passion, low in intimacy, and low in commitment. Results indicated mixed support for the triangular theory. The three sides are intimacy, passion, and commitment.
These three components have appeared in various other theories of. The triangular theory of love suggests that people can have varying degrees of intimacy, passion, and commitment at any one moment in time. Pdf perceptions of love across the lifespan differences. Intimacy is an imitate act or sexual activity with another person. Sternbergs triangular theory of love auckland counselling. If passion is low, then the distance from the center to that point of the triangle is short. Jul 02, 2018 friendly or companionate love is a combination of strong intimacy and strong commitment, but with minimal passion. Yale psychologist robert sternberg described consummate love or true love as a perfect triad of the following three components passion, intimacy, and commitment. Decisioncommitment refers, in the shortterm, to the decision that one loves a certain other, and in the. Feb 05, 2021 empty love includes the commitment point of the triangle, but does not include passion or intimacy.
Complete or complete love occurs when there is a full combination of all three elements. Commitment 1 selfsacrifice emotional intimacy 2 friendship passion 3 excitement every couples triangle is constantly changing shape and size. Robert sternberg triangular theory of love and clyde and susan. Intimacy, passion, and commitment among married individuals. Many longterm, stable relationships are based on companionate love. In this type of love, commitment and passion are present while intimacy or liking is absent. The three elements are decision commitment, passion, and intimacy. Sternbergs triangulation theory of love helps to explain the different stages of love through three elements which include.
It often starts with passion but it wanes over time leaving intimacy and commitment. These three components are intimacy the top vertex of the triangle, passion the lefthand vertex of the triangle, and decision commitment the righthand. You can be in a committed relationship and feel lonely and disconnected if you do not feel that special intimacy with your partner. Love consists of three components, intimacy, passion and decision commitment triangular theory of love, sternberg, 1986.
Sternbergs triangular theory of love states that all love relationships can be characterized according to various combinations of three components. A triangular theory of love essay 16226 words bartleby. Most people in love relationships tend to feel unhappy at times if any one of the three components intimacy, passion, or commitment is weak or missing. Title author type language date edition publication. The good type of love triangle the aspiring steward. A criticism of the love triangle theory and presenting a new. In addition to commitment and passion, sternberg added a third element, intimacy.
Recent research, which employed a new measure, offered support for the theorys primary assumptions. Sternberg believes that the three aspects of love are intimacy, passion, and decision commitment. Intimacy does not necessarily refer to physical intimacy. This takes the form of deep, long friendship, and can also be a normal stage in a. The triangle of love three components1 the triangular theory of love holds that love can be understood in terms of three components that together can be viewed as forming the vertices of a triangle. Pdf intimacy, passion and commitment in adult romantic. According to robert sternberg 1997, commitment is in the shortterm the decision that one loves a certain other, and in the longterm, to ones commitment to maintain that love.
Sternberg 1988 suggests that there are three main components of love. Triangular theory of love in social psychology iresearchnet. The assignment of components to vertices is arbitrary. Human intimacy is a complex combination of passion, com. Intimacy, passion and commitment in adult romantic. While, theoretically, having all sides of the triangle balanced is the goal, life simply does not allow it to stay that way for very long. The first 15 items in the scale reflect intimacy, the second 15 measure passion, and the final 15 reflect commitment. The value and importance of human intimacy is examined as a complex combination of passion, commitment, friendship, and love. The triangular theory of love is a theory of love developed by robert sternberg. Intimacy, passion and commitment there are many theories about what makes a marriage strong and which qualities allow a couples to grow and function well together. Are you taking care of the 3 crucial ingredients in your. The triangle of love passion, intimacy, commitment. Fatuous love results from the combination of the passion and decision commitment components in the absence of the intimacy component. Because passion fades, intimacy may grow and stabilize.
Non love all sides absent no passion, intimacy or commitment basically, this type of relationship is of just an acquaintance. Pdf predictions derived from sternbergs 1986 triangular theory of love were tested. But without the intimacy and the commitment components of love, infatuated love may disappear suddenly. Sternbergs triangular theory and the 7 types of love. Love relationships vary depending on the presence or absence of each of these components. Commitment 1 emotional intimacy 2 passion 3 marriages that are healthy and growing will display the following three major aspects of love. These three components are intimacy the top vertex of the triangle, passion the lefthand vertex of the triangle, and decision commitment the. Intimacy passion commitment items 115 items 1630 items.
There are 3 factors under the triangular theory of love. Sternbergs triangular theory and the 7 types of love verywell mind. Triangular theory of love the first topic is the triangular theory of love. And any partial components result in different forms of interpersonal relationships. The value of intimate relationships and the challenge of. Proposed within this theory, love follows a triangular motion, flowing with combinations of different levels within the three sides of the triangle. Based on robert sternbergs triangular theory of love, there are three components of love. Sternbergs triangular theory of love practical psychology. Uneven balance of intimacy, passion, and commitment isosceles two. The intimacy component is primarily emotional or affective in nature and involves feelings of warmth, closeness, connection, and bondedness in the love relationship.
When college students in my human sexuality classes are asked if they feel sternbergs theory had omitted any fundamental components of love relationships, many express that effective communication was at least as important as intimacy, passion, and commitment. There are also 8 possible types of relationship which are nonlove, romantic love, liking, fatuous love, infatuation, companionate love, empty love and consummate love. How the passion triangle can help your relationship. Fatuous love originates from the combination of the commitment decision and passion elements in the absence of the intimacy element. Intimacy, passion, commitment by robert j sternberg isbn. Sternberg says that intimacy refers to feelings of closeness, connectedness, and bondedness in loving relationships, passion refers to the drives that lead to romance, physical attraction, sexual consummation, and re. Shortly after proposing the theory of love triangle, sternberg 1999 put forward t. Psychologist robert sternberg sees love as being composed of three components. This is the kind of love that often develops over the course of many years, when the passion begins to flicker. The triangular theory of love has created much interest among researchers in relational communication. An example of a type of love that is probably more common as the relationship develops is companionate love characterized by a combination of intimacy and commitment.
Often, witnessing this leaves others confused about how the couple could be so impulsive. Sternberg identifies eight types of love, which can be described as different combinations of. Few researchers have put forth a viable theory on the concept of love. The three components of love in the triangular theory are intimacy, passion, and decisioncommitment. Passion refers to the intense, physical attraction partners feel toward one another. Recent research, which employed a new measure, offered support for the theorys. If intimacy is high, then the distance from the center to that point of the triangle is long. As i read through his research and studied the image of a triangle, i thought through the relationships in my life, past, and present. In this definition, intimacy is more about closeness. Empty love may characterize a relationship such as an arranged marriage, where both parties agree to commit to one another but do not yet feel any passionate or intimate feelings. Sometimes, a stronger love deteriorates into empty love, in which the commitment remains, but the intimacy and passion have died. A triangle is applied as an allegory, instead of as a stringent geometric framework kasschau, 2003.
Infatuated love is passion without intimacy or commitment. Fatuous love can be exemplified by a whirlwind courtship and marriage in which a commitment is motivated largely by passion without the stabilizing influence of intimacy. Differences in amounts of love are represented by differing areas of the love triangle. Twohundred andfour adults completed questionnaires assessing several constructs, including each of the three components of the theory. Though most have experienced it in their lives, defining love is challenging. Prototype analysis of the concepts of love and commitment. Regardless of where you are, couples are best matched when they desire similar levels of each sort of love.
Upon further examination and discussion, students conclude that communication was. Jun 14, 2016 the ideal love, the one we all long for, is complete or consummate love, where all 3 components of intimacy, passion and commitment exist and are strongly felt by both partners in the relationship. Romantic love begins with passion, leads to intimacy and eventually to commitment, if the relationship continues to develop. The effects of intimacy, passion, and commitment on. These three components are intimacy top vertex of the triangle, passion left hand vertex of the triangle. Companionate love emanates from a mishmash of the decision commitment and intimacy love elements. Previous attempts at evaluating the theory have proven problematic. This is the kind of relationship that exists between married couples. Sternberg says that intimacy refers to feelings of closeness, connectedness, and bondedness in loving relationships, passion. The triangular theory of love characterizes love in an interpersonal relationship on three different scales.
344 1500 892 1751 1752 851 1695 1202 855 1189 1490 76 1583 1085 205 152 346 1070 284 1152