Project SherlockEst. Knowledge

Paper

1986

A Triangular Theory of Love

Robert J. Sternberg

Models love as varying combinations of three components - intimacy, passion and commitment - whose presence or absence defines distinct kinds of relationship from infatuation to consummate love.

Before you start

FreeIntermediatelink checked 17 Sept 2026

If this is the wrong level

Too hard? Start herePrinciples of Social PsychologyCharles Stangor, Rajiv Jhangiani & Hammond Tarry, 2014An open introductory textbook surveying the field's core method - controlled experiment - and its central finding that situational forces shape behaviour more powerfully than most people expect or acknowledge.

Filed under Social Psychology in Psychology.