Human RelationshipsHuman Relationships

LoveLove

Starter (name the artist/s)Starter (name the artist/s)

““All you need is love”All you need is love” ““A million love songs”A million love songs” ““Love will tear us apart”Love will tear us apart” ““Do you love me”Do you love me” ““This love”This love” ““Can you feel the love Can you feel the love

tonight”tonight” ““Can’t help falling in Can’t help falling in

love”love” ““Endless Love” Endless Love”

Lesson ObjectivesLesson Objectives

To investigate and understand:To investigate and understand:

Hendrick and Hendrick’s theory of Hendrick and Hendrick’s theory of lovelove

Hatfield’s Passionate & Consumate Hatfield’s Passionate & Consumate LoveLove

Sternberg’s Triangular theory of loveSternberg’s Triangular theory of loveEvaluationsEvaluations

Liking vs. LovingLiking vs. Loving

Problems associated with measuring love?Problems associated with measuring love?

Rubin (1970) attachment, caring & intimacyRubin (1970) attachment, caring & intimacy

One of the first in this field, developed the One of the first in this field, developed the ‘‘scales of liking and lovingscales of liking and loving’ as a way ’ as a way of measuring the qualitatively different of measuring the qualitatively different complex feelings of love.complex feelings of love.

For example, which one is which?For example, which one is which?I feel that _____________ is a very stable person. I feel that _____________ is a very stable person. I would do almost anything for _____________.I would do almost anything for _____________.

Types of love (Lee, 1973)Types of love (Lee, 1973)

LundusLundus game playing lovegame playing loveManiaMania possessive lovepossessive lovePragmaPragma logical lovelogical loveAgapeAgape selfless (altruistic) selfless (altruistic)

loveloveStorageStoragecompanionate lovecompanionate loveErosEros erotic loveerotic love

Sex differencesSex differencesbewteen the different types of love.bewteen the different types of love.

(Hendrick and Hendrick, 1986)(Hendrick and Hendrick, 1986)

DescriptionDescription

Treating love like a Treating love like a competition or competition or gamegame

Psychologically Psychologically trying to tie the trying to tie the partner downpartner down

Treating love as a Treating love as a rational processrational process

Putting the other Putting the other person firstperson first

Developing a close Developing a close meaningful meaningful relationshiprelationship

Sexual pleasureSexual pleasure

Love typeLove type

Game Game playingplaying

PossessivePossessive

LogicalLogical

AltruisticAltruistic

CompanionatCompanionatee

EroticErotic

Sex Sex differencesdifferences

Sex differencesSex differencesbewteen the different types of love.bewteen the different types of love.

(Hendrick and Hendrick, 1986)(Hendrick and Hendrick, 1986)

DescriptionDescription

Treating love like a Treating love like a competition or competition or gamegame

Psychologically Psychologically trying to tie the trying to tie the partner downpartner down

Treating love as a Treating love as a rational processrational process

Putting the other Putting the other person firstperson first

Developing a close Developing a close meaningful meaningful relationshiprelationship

Sexual pleasureSexual pleasure

Love typeLove type

Game Game playingplaying

PossessivePossessive

LogicalLogical

AltruisticAltruistic

CompanionatCompanionatee

EroticErotic

Sex Sex differencesdifferences

Men more than Men more than womenwomen

Women more Women more than menthan men

Women more Women more than menthan men

No differenceNo difference

Women slightly Women slightly more than more than menmen

No difference No difference foundfound

Evaluative point…Evaluative point…

Females then seem to prioritise on Females then seem to prioritise on friendships and practical aspects of friendships and practical aspects of love. Males seem to prefer playful love. Males seem to prefer playful and emotional love.and emotional love.

This would fit neatly with the This would fit neatly with the ‘evolutionary perspective’ - males ‘evolutionary perspective’ - males and females have different and females have different expectations of each otherexpectations of each other

Further evaluationFurther evaluation Cross cultural research by Hendrick & Hendrick Cross cultural research by Hendrick & Hendrick

shows that different cultures have different shows that different cultures have different preferences for different types of love.preferences for different types of love.

Who do you think was more likely to favour Who do you think was more likely to favour altruistic and selfless love?altruistic and selfless love?

Students from Britain or students from Hong Students from Britain or students from Hong Kong?Kong?

WHY?WHY?

These differences for styles of love would These differences for styles of love would appear to be shaped by socialisation.appear to be shaped by socialisation.

Individualistic and collectivist Individualistic and collectivist culturescultures

Western societies appear to be more Western societies appear to be more individualistic. They make their own individualistic. They make their own decisions and take responsibility for their decisions and take responsibility for their own lives.own lives.

Eastern societies – collectivist – they Eastern societies – collectivist – they regard themselves as part of their regard themselves as part of their family/social gorup and so all their family/social gorup and so all their decisions are based on other people.decisions are based on other people.

i.e. “What does your heart say” vs. “What i.e. “What does your heart say” vs. “What will other people say”.will other people say”.

Companionate and Passionate Companionate and Passionate

lovelove Hatfield (1988)Hatfield (1988) made a distinction made a distinction

between these two types of love.between these two types of love.

Companionate LoveCompanionate Love Passionate/Romantic Passionate/Romantic LoveLove

Strong attachmentStrong attachment Intense absorption in Intense absorption in anotheranother

Strong affection, loyalty, Strong affection, loyalty, trust & respecttrust & respect

Intense attractionIntense attraction

Passion fades Passion fades High levels of arousalHigh levels of arousalClose friendsClose friends Strong emotional Strong emotional

responsesresponsesEmotions deepen over Emotions deepen over timetime

Intense emotions fade Intense emotions fade over timeover time

Evaluative pointEvaluative point

However not many people fall neatly However not many people fall neatly into each stereotypeinto each stereotype

Triangular Theory of LoveTriangular Theory of Love

Sternberg 1986Sternberg 1986

Passion – the driving force, involves Passion – the driving force, involves romantic elements and sexual attractionromantic elements and sexual attraction

Intimacy – the emotions and feelings of Intimacy – the emotions and feelings of closeness and bondednesscloseness and bondedness

Commitment – thoughts, beliefs and Commitment – thoughts, beliefs and intentions to maintain the relationshipintentions to maintain the relationship

Triangular Theory of LoveTriangular Theory of Love Positive evaluations: Positive evaluations:

A variety of combinations are possible even when A variety of combinations are possible even when components are absent.components are absent.

This model illustrates how different types of love This model illustrates how different types of love vary over time. vary over time.

Its components are not based on a all-or-none Its components are not based on a all-or-none definition, but rather but can be assessed on a definition, but rather but can be assessed on a continuum.continuum.

Research shows that of all three types, Research shows that of all three types, commitment is the best predictor of relationship commitment is the best predictor of relationship endurance and satisfaction. (Whitely, 1993).endurance and satisfaction. (Whitely, 1993).

Negative evaluations:Negative evaluations:Triangular Theory of LoveTriangular Theory of Love

Love is subjective, meaning different Love is subjective, meaning different things to different people, even things to different people, even within a relationship – which makes it within a relationship – which makes it difficult to test empiricallydifficult to test empirically

Difficult to apply the theory to all Difficult to apply the theory to all cultures e.g. with arranged cultures e.g. with arranged marriages.marriages.

Negative evaluations:Negative evaluations:Triangular Theory of LoveTriangular Theory of Love

Individual differences - ,makes it Individual differences - ,makes it difficult to test love empirically. difficult to test love empirically.

Academics have questioned whether Academics have questioned whether intimacy is a separate component of intimacy is a separate component of the model. Implications - there would the model. Implications - there would no longer be a triangle. Just passion no longer be a triangle. Just passion and commitment.and commitment.

Triangular Theory of LoveTriangular Theory of Love

For more points, For more points,

Compare the theory with other Compare the theory with other models.models.

For example……. For example…….

Past exam questionsPast exam questions

Q.Q. In the context of the triangular In the context of the triangular theory of love, distinguish between theory of love, distinguish between romantic and companionate love. (3 romantic and companionate love. (3 marks)marks)

Q.Q. With reference to the triangular With reference to the triangular theory of love, distinguish between theory of love, distinguish between two two types of love. (3 marks) types of love. (3 marks)

Q.Q. Describe and discuss the Describe and discuss the triangular theory of love. (12 marks)triangular theory of love. (12 marks)

In the context of the triangular theory of love, distinguish In the context of the triangular theory of love, distinguish between romantic and companionate love. (3 marks)between romantic and companionate love. (3 marks)

[AO1 = 2, AO2 = 1] [AO1 = 2, AO2 = 1] AO1AO1 Romantic - involves passion (and intimacy)Romantic - involves passion (and intimacy) Companionate - involves commitment Companionate - involves commitment

(and intimacy)(and intimacy)AO2 AO2 Valid distinction e.g. romantic love Valid distinction e.g. romantic love

involves stronger element of sexual involves stronger element of sexual attraction; attraction;

romantic love more usually seen earlier in romantic love more usually seen earlier in a relationships whereas companionate a relationships whereas companionate love more typical in a mature relationship.love more typical in a mature relationship.

With reference to the triangular theory of love, distinguish With reference to the triangular theory of love, distinguish

between tbetween two wo types of love. (3 marks)types of love. (3 marks)

[AO1 = 2, AO2 = 1] [AO1 = 2, AO2 = 1] AO1AO1Sternberg (1986) Sternberg (1986) Consummate, Consummate,

romantic, fatuous, companionate or romantic, fatuous, companionate or empty etc…empty etc…

AO2 AO2 Give examples to support, i.e. for the Give examples to support, i.e. for the

children (empty), older couple children (empty), older couple (consumate), newly weds (consumate)(consumate), newly weds (consumate)

Describe and discuss the triangular theory of love. Describe and discuss the triangular theory of love. (12 marks)(12 marks)

[[AO1 = 6, AO2 = 6]AO1 = 6, AO2 = 6]

AO1 AO1 Describe triangular theory (Sternberg, 1986)Describe triangular theory (Sternberg, 1986) Multidimensional model where type of love Multidimensional model where type of love

depends on interaction between depends on interaction between 3 components3 components - - passion, intimacy and commitment and change passion, intimacy and commitment and change over timeover time

Explain few types: consummate, infatuation, Explain few types: consummate, infatuation, liking, empty, romantic, companionate, fatuous. liking, empty, romantic, companionate, fatuous.

Describe and discuss the triangular theory of love. Describe and discuss the triangular theory of love. (12 marks)(12 marks)

AO2 AO2 Advantages: Flexible with multiple Advantages: Flexible with multiple

combinationscombinations Should be assessed on a continuumShould be assessed on a continuum Love is subjective – difficult to test - Love Love is subjective – difficult to test - Love

means different things to different people, means different things to different people, even within a relationship; even within a relationship;

Cultural specificity and relevance to other Cultural specificity and relevance to other cultures, eg with arranged marriages. cultures, eg with arranged marriages.

Other studies to compare and contrastOther studies to compare and contrast