Triangular Love Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Triangular Love - Research Paper Example in most western countries foster independence from a young age, so individuals have autonomy in their life decisions including their selection of a mate. Collectivist cultures on the other hand, prioritize the goals of the group or ‘collective’ over their own desires; they identify themselves in accordance with the relationships they have with other people, such as family, extended family and friends (Myers, 2005). Collectivist cultures evident in many Eastern countries promote dependence or interdependence that cultivates a concern for others in all decisions made throughout a person’s lifetime, including their selection of a mate, which in some cases is made for them. Sternberg (1986) hypothesized love as a phenomenon that changes many times; in other words it is a process with three interrelated constituents that he conceptualized as a triangle: intimacy, decision/commitment and passion. Sternberg (1986) describes intimacy as love pertaining to â€Å"closeness, connectedness, and bondedness† (p.119); while decision/commitment relates to the â€Å"decision that one loves someone else† and the â€Å"commitment to maintain that love† (p.119); passion on the other hand refers to the â€Å"drive that leads to romance, physical attraction, sexual consummation†. As love is revolving and varying the three components are not necessarily evident at one time or they may not be balanced. Sternberg also posits that the three triangular components can come together in combinations that generate eight different types of love (1986, 1988), and one relationship is capable of experiencing all eight types over time. Within an individualistic culture a person very often selects their mate based on passion and desire for the other person which Sternberg calls infatuated love and they then make a decision to commit to the relationship; thus two components of Sternberg’s triangle are combined to form what he refers to as fatuous love. With the ability to make their own