The triangular theory of love was proposed by American psychologist Robert J. Sternberg in 1986.

Sternberg suggested that love consists of three distinct components: passion, intimacy, and commitment. These components are conceptualized as the three sides of a triangle, which is why the framework is referred to as the Triangular Theory of Love.

• Passion refers to intense physical attraction and persistent thoughts about another person. It also involves sexual desire and arousal of a person in relation to another individual.
• Intimacy involves feelings of emotional closeness, bonding, and attachment to a person.
• Commitment refers to the level of connectedness or decision to maintain a relationship over time and the willingness to sustain that relationship in the long term.

According to Sternberg, different combinations of these three components give rise to different types of love. The nature of love may also change over time depending on the stage of the relationship. For example, passion and intimacy may be more prominent in the early stages, while commitment often strengthens as the relationship develops.

Following are the types of love depending on different combinations of its three components.

Liking is a form of love characterized by intimacy alone, without passion and commitment. It involves feelings of closeness and emotional connection toward another person, but does not include physical attraction or the desire for long-term commitment.

It is important to distinguish among the three components, as they are often confused in everyday language. In Sternberg’s theory, intimacy refers to emotional closeness, passion refers to physical and sexual attraction, and commitment refers to the decision to maintain a relationship over time.

Liking is commonly observed in friendships, where individuals feel emotionally connected to one another without experiencing romantic or sexual attraction, nor a commitment to a long-term romantic relationship.

Example: Two close friends sit together on a rooftop in the evening, sharing life stories, laughter, and secrets. They trust each other deeply and feel emotionally safe together. However, there is no romantic attraction or desire for a long-term romantic relationship – only genuine friendship and emotional closeness.

Infatuated love is characterized by passion but intimacy and commitment are absent. In this form of love, an individual experiences intense physical attraction and sexual arousal toward another person. It is associated with a high level of psycho-physiological arousal.

A defining feature of infatuated love is its rapid onset. For example, a person may experience immediate attraction upon first sight, often accompanied by physiological responses such as an increased heart rate and hormonal changes, leading to an intense emotional experience commonly described as “love at first sight.”

The term infatuation refers to a strong emotional or romantic love that is typically short-lived. Although it may feel intense, it generally does not persist over time due to the absence of intimacy and commitment, which are essential for the long-term stability of a relationship.

Example: A person notices someone across a crowded room and instantly feels an intense attraction. Their heart races, they keep thinking about that person, and they feel “butterflies” even without knowing them well. The feeling is powerful but fades quickly once the excitement or novelty disappears.

Empty love is characterized by the presence of commitment in the absence of intimacy and passion. It is often observed in an old relationship (that has continued for long time) in which the intimacy and passion (emotional closeness and physical attraction) may have diminished over time, yet the individuals remain committed to maintaining the relationship. With the passage of time, the partners may lose feelings of physical or sexual attraction towards each other, but they still want to remain together in the relationship due to a sense of responsibility, obligation, or long-standing commitment.

However, it is not always the case that relationships naturally progress toward empty love as they age. In some relationships, it can be the end of intimacy and passion, whereas in other relationships it can be the beginning of intimacy and passion. For instance, an arranged marriage may begin with empty love but later on, passion and intimacy start to become part of the love.

Example: An elderly couple remains together after many years of marriage. They no longer feel strong emotional closeness or physical attraction, but they continue to stay committed to each other out of duty, shared history, and responsibility.

Romantic love is primarily based on the combination of intimacy and passion, while commitment is generally limited or absent. In this form of love, individuals experience both intimacy (emotional closeness) and passion (strong physical attraction) toward one another. It is characterized by deep affection, bonding, and intense romantic feelings.

Example: Two people meet during college and quickly develop a deep emotional bond. They talk for hours, understand each other deeply, and feel strong physical attraction. However, they are not yet ready to commit to a long-term future together, so their relationship remains passionate and emotionally close but uncertain in long-term.

This type of love is a product of intimacy and commitment but does not involve passion. This is a close relationship where the individuals feel emotionally connected to each other and are committed to maintaining the bond forever. In such a relationship, the individuals enjoy the company of each other, but no sexual expectations are involved. Such relationships are often characterized by mutual care, respect, and emotional support, with no emphasis on sexual attraction or romantic desire.

This form of love is commonly observed in deep friendships and long-term partnerships, as well as within family relationships (e.g., between parents and children or siblings), where affection is grounded in care, responsibility, and enduring commitment.

Example: A married couple after many years of life together sits quietly on their porch in the evening, enjoying tea. They deeply trust each other, support one another through difficulties, and are fully committed to staying together. Even though physical attraction has faded, their bond is filled with care, respect, and emotional security.

Fatuous love is that kind of love that consists of passion and commitment but not intimacy. In this type of relationship, individuals experience strong physical attraction and are often motivated to commit to a long-term relationship quickly. It generally lacks intimacy – the feeling of psychological or emotional connectedness – and the relationship primarily revolves around passionate desires.

Such relationships are primarily driven by intense romantic or sexual attraction, with insufficient development of intimacy. For instance, sometimes a love marriage may simply be a product of fatuous love because of severe passionate desires; the partners decide to enter into wedlock to be able to maintain their relationship forever. However, the absence of intimacy (an important component) may result in relationship instability over time, because passion alone may diminish without emotional connection to sustain the bond, resulting in separation or divorce.

Example: Two people meet, feel an instant intense attraction, and within a short time decide to get married. Their relationship is filled with excitement and strong passion, and they are committed to each other—but they barely know each other deeply, and emotional understanding is still undeveloped.

Consummate love is that type of love that comprises all three component: intimacy, passion and commitment. It represents the complete form of love, as it integrates all three components in a balanced manner. It and is often considered the ideal form of romantic relationship, because each of the three components of love is equally important for a healthy relationship.

In such relationships, individuals experience emotional closeness, physical attraction, and a strong commitment to maintaining the partnership. Like a triangle is complete when it has all three sides, when the three components of love combine together, it can be called complete love.

Although it is regarded as the most desirable form of love, consummate love can be difficult to achieve and sustain. Over time, the level of passion may decrease, which can alter the balance of the relationship. However, strong intimacy and commitment can help maintain relational stability and long-term satisfaction.

Example: A couple grows together over time. They feel deeply emotionally connected, continue to experience affection and attraction, and remain fully committed through life’s challenges. They support each other’s dreams, communicate openly, and maintain both romance and friendship in a balanced, lasting relationship.