What is love? Philosophers and scientists have been struggling to answer this question for many years. In the 1980s, the American psychologist Robert Sternberg developed a three-component theory of love, which includes emotional intimacy, passion, and commitment.
According to him, it is these three points that make up the beautiful feeling in which thousands of songs and books are written. Later, thanks to his theory, Sternberg highlighted 7 types of love and we will talk about them in this article.
We believe that feelings change over time. If you have not yet reached the seventh type of love, you and your partner may need more time.
Types of Love In Psychology
7. Infatuation
It is the period when people hardly know each other but feel a mutual attraction. In this relationship, two people generally have no idea if they have something in common or not, but they still stay together.
According to the psychologist, this infatuation can transform into something more complete over time, but this does not always happen. Many couples don’t get beyond this type of love.
6. Liking
In such relationships, you can always be yourself. In this type of love, people are often united by common interests, opinions about life, and the feeling of being understood.
Psychologists believe that this intimacy without passion and commitment is likely to result in friendship than full-fledged love.
5. Empty Love
Couples who experience this type of love only commit without intimacy or passion. Sometimes this type of relationship appears after a great and fervent love, and sometimes it’s vice versa: people who experience empty love can change, which adds passion to their feelings.
4. Fatuous Love
This type of love includes commitment and passion and is familiar to many couples. This is the kind of love that exists when two people are really attracted to each other and are ready to follow certain traditions, such as lavish weddings, exchanging vows, and sharing household chores, but they have no real intimacy.
Psychologists think that these couples can live together for a long time, but their happiness is relative. In fact, they don’t perceive their partner as a friend.
3. Romantic Love
That type of love includes passion and intimacy. People in such couples are attracted to each other and comfortable, but they are not ready to make serious commitments.
Such relationships generally do not reach the level of cohabitation or marriage.
2. Companionate
Companionate love consists of commitment and intimacy. Such relationships are much stronger than a common friendship, and there is a real bond between partners.
However, this is a fairly chaste agreement, because that kind of love lacks passion. Psychologists say the companionate type of relationship can emerge after long years of friendship or marriage.
1. Consummate Love
This love consists of three components: passion, emotional intimacy, and commitment. Obviously, their levels are not always the same, but it is important to note that they’re all here.
You can rarely see this type of relationship, but if people can build it, they really love each other. These couples are likely to be able to live long lives together and enjoy marriage.
Psychologists are sure that a person experiences various types of love in their lifetime. Sometimes it happens with the same partner: they get closer and move to a new level.
But other times it happens to different people. Either way, your relationship may not fit one of the 7 standard types of love and may balance between two of them.
This typology will help you define what relationship you are in now and whether it is worth continuing. If you discuss this with your partner, you will eventually be able to transform your type of love into a type that both of you are happy with.
What kind of love have you experienced? Share your stories in the comments.
Preview photo credit Tres metros sobre el cielo / Globo Media S.A., Enemy / Mecanismo Films
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