Triangular Theory of Love (Sternberg)
Triangular Theory of Love (Sternberg)
A theory that explains love through three components: intimacy, passion, and commitment. The combination of these three elements determines the type of love in a relationship.
Details
What Is the Triangular Theory of Love?
Proposed by psychologist Robert Sternberg in 1986, this theory explains love through three core components: Intimacy, Passion, and Commitment.
The Three Components
Intimacy: Emotional closeness, connectedness, and bonding. It's the feeling of understanding and supporting each other.
Passion: Romantic attraction, physical appeal, and sexual desire. It represents the motivational and arousal aspects of a relationship.
Commitment: The decision and will to maintain love. In the short term, it's the decision to love someone; in the long term, it's the promise to sustain the relationship.
7 Types of Love
| Type | Intimacy | Passion | Commitment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liking | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Infatuated Love | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ |
| Empty Love | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Romantic Love | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ |
| Companionate Love | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Fatuous Love | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Consummate Love | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
In Real Relationships
The balance of the three components shifts as a relationship progresses. Passion tends to fade over time, while intimacy and commitment can actually deepen. Maintaining consummate love requires conscious and ongoing effort.
*Mindy here — if you're curious about where your own relationship falls on this triangle, it can be a really meaningful conversation to explore together.*
💡 Real-Life Example
A couple may start out with only intense passion (infatuated love), but over time, as intimacy and commitment grow alongside it, the relationship can develop into consummate love.
This content is for educational purposes and does not replace professional medical diagnosis.