Sternberg’s Triangular Theory of Love

Table of ContentsView AllTable of Contents3 Components7 TypesImportance

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

3 Components

7 Types

Importance

This theory suggests that people can have varying degrees of intimacy, passion, and commitment at any moment in time. Research has emerged to confirm the value of Sternberg’s theory. For instance, a 2021 study offered empirical support for the universality of the triangular theory of love.

If you’re interested in learning more about this feeling that’s so hard to define, read on to learn the three components of love that Sternberg described. We also share the seven types of love, such as empty and fatuous love, and the components of each type.

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Sternberg’s 3 Components of Love

In Sternberg’s theory, the concept of love is a triangle that is made up of three components. Some of these components are focused on the love between two people in a romantic or sexual relationship, but they also apply to other forms ofinterpersonal relationships.

The three components of love are:

Finding a balance between the physiologicalneed for sexand theneed for loveis essential, and the complete absence of all three components is categorized asnon-love.

A love triangle is not the same thing as the triangular theory of love. In a love triangle, three people may either be involved in apolyamorous relationshipor two people may compete for the love of a third person.

Sternberg’s 7 Types of Love

The three components of love interact in a systemic manner. The presence of one component or a combination of two or more components creates seven kinds of love experiences.

These types of love may vary over the course of a relationship as well. For example, a relationship could begin as passionate love, progress into romantic love, and then eventually reach a state of companionate love.

Friendship

Components: Liking

This type of love is when the intimacy or liking component is present, but feelings of passion or commitment in the romantic sense are missing.Friendship lovecan be the root of other forms of love.

Infatuation

Components: Passion

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Empty Love

Components: Commitment

Romantic Love

Components: Intimacy and Passion

Romantic lovebonds people emotionally through intimacy and physical passion. Partners in this type of relationship have deep conversations that help them know intimate details about each other. They enjoy sexual passion and affection. These couples may be at the point where long-term commitment or future plans are still undecided.

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Companionate Love

Components: Liking and Intimacy

Companionate loveis an intimate, but non-passionate sort of love. It includes the intimacy or liking component and the commitment component of the triangle. It is stronger than friendship because there is a long-term commitment, but there is minimal or no sexual desire.

This type of love is often found in marriages where the passion has died, but the couple continues to have deep affection or a strong bond. This may also be viewed as the love between very close friends and family members.

One survey-based study involving firefighters suggests that the companionate love they have for their co-workers may reduce their risk-taking behaviors.

Fatuous Love

Components: Commitment and Passion

According to data collected in one piece of research, reproductive success may be greater in cases where women have fatuous love and men have empty love.However, marriages involving fatuous love often don’t work out. When they do, many chalk the success up to luck.

Consummate Love

Components: Intimacy, Passion, and Commitment

Consummate love is made up of all three components and is the total form of love. It representsan ideal relationship. Couples who experience this kind of love have great sex several years into their relationship. They cannot imagine themselves with anyone else.

These couples also cannot see themselves truly happy without their partners. They manage to overcome differences and face stressors together.

Love Is a VerbAccording to Sternberg, consummate love may be harder to maintain than it is to achieve, as the components of love must be put into action. Without behavior and expression, passion is lost and love may revert back to the companionate type.

Love Is a Verb

According to Sternberg, consummate love may be harder to maintain than it is to achieve, as the components of love must be put into action. Without behavior and expression, passion is lost and love may revert back to the companionate type.

Why Is Sternberg’s Triangular Theory of Love Important?

According to Sternberg, the importance of each component of love may differ from person to person and couple to couple. All three components are required for the ideal romantic relationship, but the amount of each component required will differ from one relationship to another, or even over time within a relationship.

Knowing how the components interact may help highlight areas that may need improvement. For example, recognizing that the passion has gone out of your relationshipcan help you look for ways to rekindle the spark.

5 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Sorokowski P, Sorokowska A, Karwowski M, et al.Universality of the triangular theory of love: adaptation and psychometric properties of the triangular love scale in 25 countries.J Sex Res. 2021;58(1):106-115. doi:10.1080/00224499.2020.1787318Sternberg RJ.Liking versus loving: A comparative evaluation of theories.Psychol Bull. 1987;102(3):331-345. doi:10.1037/0033-2909.102.3.331Sternberg RJ.Cupid’s arrow: the course of love through time.O’Neill OA, Rothbard NP.Is love all you need? The effects of emotional culture, suppression, and work-family conflict on firefighter risk-taking and health.Acad Manage J. 2015;60(1):78-108. doi:10.5465/amg.2014.0952Sorokowski P, Sorokowska A, Butovskaya M, et al.Love influences reproductive success in humans.Sec Evolution Psychol. 2017;8:1922. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2017.01922Additional ReadingSternberg RJ.A triangular theory of love.Psychol Rev. 1986;93(2):119-135. doi:10.1037/0033-295x.93.2.119

5 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Sorokowski P, Sorokowska A, Karwowski M, et al.Universality of the triangular theory of love: adaptation and psychometric properties of the triangular love scale in 25 countries.J Sex Res. 2021;58(1):106-115. doi:10.1080/00224499.2020.1787318Sternberg RJ.Liking versus loving: A comparative evaluation of theories.Psychol Bull. 1987;102(3):331-345. doi:10.1037/0033-2909.102.3.331Sternberg RJ.Cupid’s arrow: the course of love through time.O’Neill OA, Rothbard NP.Is love all you need? The effects of emotional culture, suppression, and work-family conflict on firefighter risk-taking and health.Acad Manage J. 2015;60(1):78-108. doi:10.5465/amg.2014.0952Sorokowski P, Sorokowska A, Butovskaya M, et al.Love influences reproductive success in humans.Sec Evolution Psychol. 2017;8:1922. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2017.01922Additional ReadingSternberg RJ.A triangular theory of love.Psychol Rev. 1986;93(2):119-135. doi:10.1037/0033-295x.93.2.119

Sorokowski P, Sorokowska A, Karwowski M, et al.Universality of the triangular theory of love: adaptation and psychometric properties of the triangular love scale in 25 countries.J Sex Res. 2021;58(1):106-115. doi:10.1080/00224499.2020.1787318Sternberg RJ.Liking versus loving: A comparative evaluation of theories.Psychol Bull. 1987;102(3):331-345. doi:10.1037/0033-2909.102.3.331Sternberg RJ.Cupid’s arrow: the course of love through time.O’Neill OA, Rothbard NP.Is love all you need? The effects of emotional culture, suppression, and work-family conflict on firefighter risk-taking and health.Acad Manage J. 2015;60(1):78-108. doi:10.5465/amg.2014.0952Sorokowski P, Sorokowska A, Butovskaya M, et al.Love influences reproductive success in humans.Sec Evolution Psychol. 2017;8:1922. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2017.01922

Sternberg RJ.Liking versus loving: A comparative evaluation of theories.Psychol Bull. 1987;102(3):331-345. doi:10.1037/0033-2909.102.3.331

Sternberg RJ.Cupid’s arrow: the course of love through time.

O’Neill OA, Rothbard NP.Is love all you need? The effects of emotional culture, suppression, and work-family conflict on firefighter risk-taking and health.Acad Manage J. 2015;60(1):78-108. doi:10.5465/amg.2014.0952

Sorokowski P, Sorokowska A, Butovskaya M, et al.Love influences reproductive success in humans.Sec Evolution Psychol. 2017;8:1922. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2017.01922

Sternberg RJ.A triangular theory of love.Psychol Rev. 1986;93(2):119-135. doi:10.1037/0033-295x.93.2.119

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Sternberg’s 3 Components of Love#

Sternberg’s 7 Types of Love#

Friendship#

Infatuation#

Empty Love#

Romantic Love#

Companionate Love#

Fatuous Love#

Consummate Love#

Love Is a Verb#

Why Is Sternberg’s Triangular Theory of Love Important?#