- Love, according to Sternberg's Triangular Theory, consists of three aspects: intimacy, passion, and commitment. Perfect love is the love that fills from these three aspects. Here is an explanation of each aspect.
- Passion tends to occur at the beginning of a relationship, relatively quickly and then move at a steady rate as a result of habituation.
- Intimacy relatively slowly and then gradually manifests as an increase interpersonal bonding. Changes in circumstances can turn intimacy, which can lead to decreased intimacy or even more ride.
- Commitment, an increase relatively slow at first, then walk faster, and will gradually settle down. When a relationship fails, the level of commitment usually decrease gradually and disappear.
Based on these three aspects, it turns out not everyone qualifies a perfect love. They could only meet one or two of the three aspects. What if only one or two aspects are met? Stenberg divides love into several types based on which aspects are met. Here is the kind of love or the type of love that is expressed by Stenberg.
1. Liking, in this case does not mean the trivial. Sternberg said that like in this case is a characteristic of true friendship, in which one feels attachment, warmth and closeness with another but not intense passion or in the case of long-term commitment. Terms of the nature of love is the fulfillment of intimacy.
2. Infatuated love, often perceived as "love at first sight." But no aspect of intimacy and commitment in love, crazy love may disappear suddenly. Terms of the crazy love is the emergence of intimacy and commitment.
3. Empty love. Sometimes, love appears without any feeling of intimacy and passion and it is called with an empty love. Type of love is only there to commit without any feeling of intimacy and passion between them. This usually arises when there is a culture of matchmaking and often begins with the type of love is empty.
4. Romantic love. Those who have a romantic love will be bonded emotionally (as in number 1) and the passion of one another. Terms for romantic love is the emergence of intimacy and passion.
5. Companionate love. Often found in marriage, where passion is no longer visible, but a deep affection and commitment remain. Companionate love is generally a relationship between you and someone who live together, but without sexual desire or physical. It is stronger than friendship because in this connection there is an element of commitment. One example of love in a family is a form of companionate love, as well as those who spend a lot of time together but there is no intercourse and passion there.
6. Fatuous love. Can be exemplified when the courtship and marriage in estrangement, where the love is still there is a commitment and passion, without any influence such as attachment intimacy, warmth and closeness.
7. Consummate love, is a complete form of a love. This is the ideal type and more people want to achieve. Sternberg reminded, maintaining perfect love may be more difficult than achieving it. Perfect love may not be permanent. For example, if the passion is lost from time to time, may turn into companionate love.
The balance between these three aspects, namely Sternberg intimacy, passion and commitment in love tend to shift and dynamic.
Knowledge of aspects of love can help couples avoid problems in their relationship. Well, you including that?
