Human Growth and Development / Unit 14 HGD 1963 worked example, 60 to 90 seconds
Sternberg's Seven Kinds of Love
The idea
Sternberg's three components, intimacy, passion and commitment, can each be present or absent, and they combine into seven kinds of love. Intimacy alone is liking, the warmth of close friendship. Passion alone is infatuation. Commitment alone is empty love. Intimacy with passion is romantic love. Intimacy with commitment is companionate love. Passion with commitment is fatuous love. All three together make consummate love.
In practice
A whirlwind couple who marry within weeks, passionate and committed but barely acquainted: fatuous love, passion and commitment without intimacy.
Where people slip
The theory has been validated across twenty-five countries. Exam items describe a relationship and ask for the kind of love: count which components are present. Romantic love lacks commitment; companionate love lacks passion; each missing component changes the kind.
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