 Sternberg views love as a triangular structure, consisting of three components: intimacy, passion and commitment.

 This is defined as a strong feeling of sexual desire for another.  It develops the most quickly of the three.

 This develops slowly as each individual shares himself or herself with another and becomes willing to meet the other’s psychological needs.

 As the rewards of this relationship over others becomes evident, and individuals accept reciprocal roles, the commitment to maintaining the relationship grows.

 Various combinations of these components result in eight kinds of love:  (1) non-love (absence of the three components),  (2) liking (intimacy in isolation),  (3) infatuation (passion),  (4) empty love (commitment),  (5) romantic love (passion and intimacy),  (6) compassionate love (intimacy and commitment),  (7) fatuous love (passion and commitment)  (8) consummate love (which includes all three components)