Chapter7ssLoveandCommunication.ppt

Chapter 7Love, attraction, relationships, and communication What Is Love? Difficult to define special attitude with behavioral and emotional components different things to different people difficult to measure What Is Love? (cont.) Zick Rubins love scale”(13 item questionnaire) Has 3 components Attachment: The need to be cared for and be with the other person. Caring: Valuing the other persons happiness and needs as much as your own Intimacy: Sharing private thoughts, feelings, and desires with the other person. Rubin’s Love Scale Types of Love Passionate love (a.k.a. romantic love or infatuation) extreme absorption with and desire for one another. intense psychological feelings Little logic and reasoned consideration generalized physiological arousal, strong sexual desire Increased heartbeat, sweating, blushing, stomach butterflies, etc. avoid conflict, overlook faults feelings of completeness short-lived; usually occurs early in a relationship. Types of Love Companionate love less intense friendly affection deep attachment extreme familiarity Reflected in sexual relationship; partners feel comfortable discussing what pleases one another and share familiarity and sexual trust. tolerance for short-comings desire to overcome difficulties and work through conflicts more enduring than passionate love Sternberg’s Triangular Theory of Love Love has three faces: Passion: motivational component Fuels romantic feelings, sexual desire, attraction. Intimacy: emotional component Feeling of being bonded with other person; warmth, sharing private thoughts, emotional closeness. Commitment: thinking/cognitive component Conscious decision to love another and work through difficulties. Various combinations of the three components of love make up the different kinds of love. See triangle Sternberg’s Triangular Theory of Love All 3 components are important dimensions of a loving relationship The 3 components exist in different patterns and to varying degrees Different combinat