WHAT IS LOVE? Human Behavior

LOVE What is YOUR definition of Love? “When the satisfaction, security, and development of another person is as important to you as your own satisfaction, security, and development, love exists.” – Harry Stack Sullivan

Sternberg’s Theory of LOVE Robert Sternberg’s theory is based on 3 different scales: intimacy, passion, and commitment A relationship based on one alone is less likely to survive

Each stage of love can be described using different combinations of the three elements – Ex. Liking, empty, infatuation, romantic, companionate, fatuous, and consummate

Components of Love Passion- intense physiological desire for another person Intimacy- the feeling that one can share all one’s thoughts and actions with another Commitment- willingness to stay with a person through the good and the bad

Types of Love Liking (intimacy)= true friendships; feeling of warmth, closeness, and bonding Infatuated (passion)=“love at first sight”, often disappears suddenly Empty (commitment)= may occur when a strong love deteriorates; arranged marriages may begin this way

Types of Love Romantic love (passion +intimacy)= bonded emotional and physically Companionate love (commitment+intimacy) = personal relation you build with someone but you may not experience any physical desire Fatuous Love (passion + commitment)= “Vegas wedding” whirlwind marriage without intimacy

Consummate Love (intimacy+passion+com mitment)= complete form of love, represents IDEAL form of love Many try to achieve it, but few actually do Hard to maintain

Types of love will shift through stages of a relationship Time alone does not create intimacy, passion, and commitment– You must work for it! – How?

Can a teen achieve consummate love? What kinds of love do you see in your life?