Sternberg identified three components of love in his triangular
theory. They are
- Intimacy - warmth and closeness shared in relationship
- Passion - intensity of the feelings
- Commitment- the intention of maintaining and keeping the
relationship stable and long term.
Based on how these 3 components interact we can classify
different forms of love.
- When all three are absent there is no love.
- Infatuated love - when there is high amount of passion but less
commitment and intimacy.
- Liking- We share intimacy with a person but there is no passion
or commitment.
- Fatuous Love- Combination of passion and commitment.Hasty
relationships where intimacy has not yet developed.
- Empty Love- Only Commitment is present, no passion and
intimacy.
- Romantic Love- Whn intimacy amd passion are present, lovers are
drawn towards each other but there is no intention of
commitment.
- Companionate Love - Intimacy and commitment is there but no
passion, often seen in long term marriages.
- Consummate Love- when a relationship is balanced in all three
dimensions.
Sternberg's theory although useful in classifying love. The
components are separable, but interactive with each other.Hoewever
it does not give a definition of what love is or why it relies only
on these 3 dimensions.