Close Relationships & The Triangular Theory of Love

10 signs of intimacy

1. desire to promote welfare of the other (want the other to be happy and do well) 2. happy when w/ them 3. high regard for the other (great respect for him/her) 4. being able to rely on him/her in times of need 5. mutual understanding 6. sharing oneself and one's possessions 7. receiving emotional support 8. giving emotional support 9. intimate communication 10. valuing loved one in one's life commitment

Companionate love

COMMITMENT + INTIMACY usually with family --> personal relationship you build with someone you live with without sexual desires

Empty love

COMMITMENT ALONE strong love may deteriorate --> no more passion or intimacy arranged marriages

Romantic love

INTIMACY + PASSION ex. love at our age when the two are bonded emotionally and physically, but they haven't committed to spending their future together

Consummate love

INTIMACY + PASSION + COMMITTMENT the perfect and ideal type of love what a relationship should be like when getting married few achieve it all three factors are present

Liking

INTIMACY ALONE characterises friendships a person feels boundedness, warmth, and closeness with the other

Fatuous love

PASSION + COMMITTMENT commitment is motivated by the passion they feel towards each other --> no influence of intimacy, meaning that they're not emotionally bonded or connected

Infatuated love

PASSION ALONE "love at first time" "booty calls" may disappear quickly sexual drive activated --> no deep connection or commitment

Triangular theory of love

Theory created by Robert Sternberg that described a triangle with three extremes: passion, intimacy, and commitment. He proposed that there are many different types of love that can consist of one of these alone or a mix of two or the three.

Interdependence

When each partner's thoughts, emotions, and behaviours are influenced by the other

Intimacy

close, connected, and bonded feelings in a loving relationship --> getting to know each other deeply (fears, inside jokes, aspirations, etc.)

Close relationships

relationships involving strong and frequent interdependence in many domains of life

Passion

the drives that lead to romance, physical attraction, and the consumption in a loving relationship --> happiness, butterflies, sexual arousal, etc.

Commitment

the intent to maintain a relationship in spite of the difficulties and the cost -short term: decide you love the person -long term: decide that you're willing to maintain the relationship in spite of the cost