Triangular Theory of Love

The Triangular Theory of Love, proposed by psychologist Robert Sternberg, suggests that love has three key components: intimacy (deep emotional connection), passion (romantic and physical attraction), and commitment (decision to maintain the relationship). Different combinations of these elements create various types of love. For example, intimacy plus commitment leads to companionate love, while all three together form consummate love, considered ideal. Understanding these components helps explain how relationships develop, change, or endure over time, emphasizing that love is dynamic and multifaceted rather than a single feeling.