Interpersonal Relationships Flashcards
Theories of Love
Passionate vs Companionate, Sternberg’s Triangle, Triangular Theory of love, “Colors” of love, Self-Expansion Theory of love
Phenomenological Research
In love vs love, love vs lust, unrequited love,
Passionate Love
Feel intense for the person, longing to be with and near them, PDA, want to touch, physical and emotional intimacy, ANS arousal.
Combination of cognitive, emotional, and physiological things/activation
Companionate Love
Love as comfort, best friends, liking the same things, desire to spend time with them by enjoying each other,s company, not at the same level of activation. Same attitude about things, but not necessarily coordinated with sexual activity or intrusive thoughts about partner
Sternberg’s Triangle Theory
Passion
Commitment/. \Intimacy (companionate)
Depending on where you stand amongst these three, it changes how you love
The Triangular Theory of Love
Different mixtures of the components from Sternberg’s triangle create different experiences
Companionate love - high intimacy and commitment, but little passion
Infatuation - just passion
Consummate love - all present to a substantial degree
“Colors” of Love
Love as a personality dimension;
Eros, ludus, storge, mania, agape, pragma
Eros
Erotic love with a strong physical component
Ludus
Playful and uncommitted; love is a game
(think of Ludi)
Storge
Love that emphasizes friendship and commitment
Mania
Possessive, obsessive love that is full of fantasy
Agape
Altruistic, selfless, dutiful love
Pragma
Practical and pragamatic, dispassionate love
Self-Expansion Theory of Love
A religious view of life as a journey of human growth.
As a theory of love: we find someone who we expound with because of our relationship with them; expanding together
Researcher Evidence of the Self-Expansion Theory of Love
Social cognition work
- More overlap in the way you rate yourself vs your partner?
Pre vs post falling in love
College freshman completed study on themselves to describe themselves at the beginning and then after falling in love. Those who fell in love had a big expansion on their description than others
Married couples: “exciting” activities
Pleasing vs exciting. Exciting had increase of positive emotions b/c the new experience helped them expand together
