Sternberg's Triangular Theory of Love
Robert Sternberg's triangular theory of love proposes that love is composed of three distinct but interrelated components: intimacy, passion, and decision/commitment. The emotional intimacy and the cognitive decision/commitment components are typically rather constant in close relationships; once they are established in a relationship they are apt to endure. However, passion is considered to be less stable and much less predictable. Within this theory, individuals love each other to the extent that they experience and evidence these three components, and different combinations of the components will yield markedly different kinds of love. The triangular theory allows for eight types of love: non love, liking, infatuation, empty, romantic, companionate, fatuous, and consummate. Keywords: commitment; infatuation; intimacy; love; passion; romance; wheel theory of love