Question

In Robert Sternberg's model (p 332-333) he talks about passion, intimacy and commitment. He appears to make the assumption that the highest level in the triangle is marriage. If we apply his theory and use our knowledge of development to date: What is love? How might we explain the relationship of people who live together? Why might they make this choice? What about casual dating? Where does that fit into the model? Same-sex partners? Single parents? What about married couples? Can a couple attain the level that Sternberg believes is the ideal? How? Can it be sustained? In what ways do you think that gender differences influence intimacy? In what ways does our early developmental experience of relationships influence later relationships? (attachment) Any other thoughts you have about the world of relationships.

Answer 1

Love is an emotion that is very unique to human beings, although other features also express love at times. When people like each other in terms of their characters, ability, v physical appearance, skill, social status etc. they come together, especially two people from different backgrounds. Although, everyone tries to attract and make an attempt to live together, very few last for a long time while others keep looking for a perfect partner which is highly impossible because what seems to be perfect will become imperfect if there is no true love or if the relationship is based on money, status etc. Some people look for a casual relationship which is focused more on the physical element. When this physical sex gets boring, one would look for someone else for sex. With the rise in the LGBTQ community, there are same sex marriages that are becoming a common occurrence.
Passion, intimacy and commitment are the three pillars of the marriage life. As days pass, these three things are becoming outdated or obsolete. People are looking for fast food and they treat relationships as fast food too. Early days love and care will definitely strengthen one's later life relationships and at the same time early years abuse will also have a negative or broken relationships. It's still possible to attain what Sternberg believes as the three pillars of any relationship of the parties involved go beyond the physical attraction and accept each other with all their positives and negatives.

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