Sternberg's Triangular Theory of Love tells us that love has three main parts: intimacy, passion, and commitment. These parts can change in level, which leads to different kinds of love and relationships.

1. Parts of Love:

   • Intimacy: This is about feeling close and connected to someone. It includes emotional support, understanding each other, and sharing personal thoughts and feelings.
   • Passion: This is about the physical attraction and romantic feelings that often start a relationship. It's linked to excitement and sometimes sexual desire.
   • Commitment: This is the choice to stay in a relationship over time, whether in the short-term or long-term.

2. Types of Love: Sternberg describes different types of love based on how the three parts mix together:

   • Non-love: No intimacy, passion, or commitment at all.
   • Liking: This is intimacy without passion or commitment, like a close friendship.
   • Infatuation: This is when there’s only passion, and it often feels like a temporary crush without deep feelings.
   • Empty love: Here, there's commitment but no intimacy or passion, often seen in unchanging or arranged relationships.
   • Romantic love: This combines intimacy and passion but has no commitment, common in many new relationships.
   • Companionate love: This includes intimacy and commitment. It’s often found in long-lasting friendships or marriages where passion has faded.
   • Fatuous love: This has passion and commitment but no intimacy, often seen in quick romances.
   • Consummate love: This is the best kind of love, having all three parts—intimacy, passion, and commitment. Research shows that only about 12% of people feel this complete love.

3. Relationship Changes:

   • Relationships can change as the levels of intimacy, passion, and commitment shift. For example, a relationship that starts with a lot of passion might turn into companionate love as intimacy and commitment grow but passion decreases.
   • Studies say that about 50% of marriages see a drop in passion after a few years. So, having a good balance of intimacy and commitment is important for a long-lasting relationship.
   • Also, if partners have different focuses on what they value in love, it can lead to problems. For instance, if one person cares more about intimacy while the other cares more about passion, it can cause confusion and unhappiness.

Understanding Sternberg's Triangular Theory of Love can help us recognize our own needs and the dynamics in our romantic relationships. This knowledge can lead to better communication and more satisfaction in our relationships.