Exploring the Science of Romantic Connection: Concepts and Evidence
Love, a powerful and complex emotional experience, has long been a subject of fascination and study. American psychologist Dr. Robert Sternberg introduced the triangular theory of love in 1986, providing a framework for understanding the various forms it can take.
The theory is based on three domains: intimacy (emotional), commitment (cognitive), and passion (physical). These domains help account for seven different kinds of love, each characterised by the involvement of one or more of these components.
Romantic Love is a combination of intimacy and passion, often typifying new relationships. It is marked by strong emotional connections and physical attraction, but may lack long-term plans or commitments.
On the other hand, Companionate Love is a deep friendship with commitment. It is often seen in long-term marriages where the passion may have waned but the emotional bond remains strong.
Infatuation, characterised by passion without emotional intimacy or established commitment, is a fleeting form of love. It is often associated with the initial stages of a relationship.
Fatuous Love is a type of love where one has been swept up by passion into an engagement or marriage without emotional intimacy or a strong commitment.
Consummate Love, the goal for many when they envision marriage or a spousal partnership, encompasses all three domains: commitment, passion, and emotional intimacy.
Liking is a form of love where there's emotional intimacy but no physical passion or commitment. Friendship falls under this category.
Empty Love is a committed relationship that lacks passion or emotional intimacy. Examples include an arranged marriage or a previously emotional or physical relationship that's lost its spark.
Love plays a crucial role in forming social bonds with others, encouraging nurturance, cooperation, reproduction, and mutual support. It is regulated by using emotional regulation strategies such as expression suppression, cognitive reappraisal, distraction, and situation selection.
Positive attachments in love provide emotional support and a feeling of security. They set mammals apart from many other animals, as strong attachment bonds are a component of love.
Recent studies have suggested that love may safeguard against cancer, as tissue from pair-bonded mice was less likely to grow tumours than tissue from mice with disruptions to their pair bonds. Another study found that falling in love resulted in immune system changes similar to protective viral infection responses.
The dopaminergic system in the brain is the source of love. The ventral tegmental area, responsible for motivation and emotional regulation, is associated with maternal and romantic love.
In conclusion, love, in its various forms, is a complex and multifaceted emotional experience that impacts social relationships and involves changes in brain chemistry. Understanding its different forms and components can help us better navigate and appreciate the powerful connections we form with others.
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