Triangular Theory of Love - Essay Example

To understand the theory better, let us consider an example of infatuated love. We meet and like several people in our daily life. We do not feel the same about all of them. At times, we meet people who we like a lot and we wish to be with them. This type of love is often called ‘love at first sight’ or ‘infatuated love’. People do not know each other, nor do they have intimacy. Such a kind of love starts with the feeling of pure passion. Romantic relationships of this kind, are based on sexual desires and physical attraction. Hence, in such relationships, the passion dimension of the triangular theory is at its peak. Passion is the element that plays a major role in infatuated love relationships. People involved in this kind of love relationship do not normally trust each other to the extent as romantic lovers do. The commitment level is also low as their feelings are limited to sexual desire and apparent attraction. However, when intimacy develops between them and they start to know each other the infatuated love grows into a romantic love relationship where intimacy and passion both are high.  If the level of intimacy does not grow, the relationship and love vanishes with time and no feelings are left between the partners. Hence, for an infatuated love to develop and the relationship to be strong, the level of intimacy and commitment must flourish.

In conclusion, we can that the triangular theory of love provides good information about how love grows and the level of the three dimensions of love in each relationship. This theory provides a better insight into relationships and the need to grow one or the other aspect to keep the love relationship strong and growing.