Psych of Sexuality - Love (chapter 12)

romantic love

the idealization of another; the combination of passion and intimacy (liking)

friendship

a relationship that includes:
*enjoyment of each other's company
*acceptance of one another
*mutual trust
*respect for one another
*mutual assistance when needed
*confiding in one another
*understanding
*spontaneity

companionate love:

love based on togetherness, trust, sharing, and affection rather than passion (intimacy + commitment)

passionate love

a state of intense longing for union with one another, and profound physiological arousal

attachment

two meanings:
a) a drab, mundane form of companionship where one's partner gives few positive rewards, other than predictability, for remaining in the relationship
b) the emotional tie between a parent and a child, or between two adults

conditional love

feelings of love that depend on the loved one satisfying needs and fulfilling desires

unconditional love

feelings of love that do not depend on the loved one meeting certain expectations or desires

habituation

responding less positively to a stimulus with repeated exposure to it

growing apart

having fewer common interests over time

growing together

maintaining common interests or forging new interests over time

Typical scholarly view on romantic love cross-culturally

Romantic love is considered to be a relatively recent phenomena that exists only in Western culture.
Romantic love is unnecessary and not valued in primitive clans where there is shared intimacy, and where individual achieve their identity through the gro

Newer scholarly ideas challenging traditional view of romantic love cross-culturally

Accounts of homoerotic love in classical Greece, among the literate elite of Japan's Tokugawa period, and in the myths and legends of ancient India challenge the notion that romantic love is Western phenomena.
In one extensive cross-cultural study that ex

Romantic love in Middle Ages

Romantic love became idealized in Middle Ages with courtly love, but was not considered a good reason to enter into marriage until the late 1800s.
In industrialized coutnries, where importance is attached to individuals, monogamy is standard.
In simpler s

What is attachment theory of love?

The attachment theory for love posits that the strength of one's infant-caregiver attachment bond directly affects the type of attachment style one will adopt in their adult relationships.
Among seriously committed couples, there is a higher proportion of

Initial 3 types of infant-caregiver attachment bonds

secure attachment, anxious-ambivalent attachment, and avoidant attachment

Secure attachment tendencies

A child with secure attachment learns that their parents are a consistent source of security and trust.
As adults, these individuals do not fear abandonment and have an easy time getting close to others.
They have positive views of themselves, are well-li

Anxious-ambivalent attachment tendencies

A child with anxious-ambivalent attachment has experienced inconsistent parenting. Eventually this leads to uncertainty and a variety of emotional reactions that may include actively seeking to be near the parent, ambivalence towards the parent, and angry

Avoidant attachment tendencies

A child with avoidant attachment develops negative attitudes of others because their parents neglect them, under stimulate them, or over stimulate them.
Adults with this attachment style have negative views of others and therefore have difficulties feelin

Expanded model of 4 attachment styles

Secure - positive attitudes about themselves and others
Preoccupied (similar to anxious-ambivalent): have negative attitudes about themselves and positive attitudes about others
Dismissive: negative attitudes about others but positive attitudes about them

What is STernberg's triangular theory of love?

Sternberg's triangular theory of love posits that all of the different positive emotions that people can have for others can be understood by the various possible combinations of intimacy, passion, and commitment.

Sternberg -Intimacy alone

In Sternberg's model, the feelings in a relationship that promote closeness or bonding and the feeling of warmth. When taken in isolation, the resulting feeling is "liking" that defines a friendship

Sternberg - Liking

In Sternberg's model, the result of feeling intimacy alone for someone else - the basis of a friendship

Sternberg - Passion alone

In Sternberg's model, the drive leading to physical attraction, sexual relations, and romance. Taken in isolation, the resulting phenomena is "infatuated love" that defines "love at first sight".

Sternberg - Infatuated love

In Sternberg's model, the result of feeling passion alone for someone else - the basis of "love at first sight

Sternberg - Decision/Commitment alone

In Sternberg's model, refers to the decision that one loves the other person and will commit to maintaining the relationship. When taken in isolation, the resulting phenomena is "empty love" that usually defines the final stages of a long-term stagnant re

Sternberg - Empty love

In Sternberg's model, refers to the type of love found in a relationship consisting of decision/commitment alone that defines the final stages of a long-term stagnant relationship.

Sternberg - romantic love

In Sternberg's model, the combination of intimacy + passion resulting in a physical and emotional closeness that characterizes "summer love" type relationships

Sternberg - companionate love

In Sternberg's model, the combination of intimacy and decision/commitment that defines a long-term committed friendship.

Sternberg - fatuous love

In Sternberg's model, the combination of passion and commitment that typically results in whirlwind fleeting romances like Hollywood relationships

Sternberg - consummate love

In Sternberg's model, the combination of intimacy, passion, and decision/commitment resulting in complete love that is most likely to endure.

What makes relationships last?

One of the most important ways to maintain a relationship is to develop and maintain intimacy.
This can be done by attempting to achieve mutual understanding, where both partners:
*a) accept themselves as they are
*b) recognize the other partner for what

What breaks relationships up?

Habituation, or the phenomena of responding less positively to a stimulus with repeated exposure to it, occurs in relationships and is the greatest challenge that a couple faces.
It is inevitable, and usually leads to a decline in passion. To avoid habitu

What is Gottman's model of relationships?

Gottman's Method COuples Therapy is a structured, goal-oriented, scientifically-based therapy based on empirical data.

What does Gottman's model of relationships suggest?

Brad knew the most solvable things clearly.
Building love maps
Nurturing fondness and admiration
Turn toward each other
Make life dreams come true
Solve your solvable problems
Trust
Commitment

Gottman - Building love maps

Couples should know about the major events in each other's history and keep updating this information as their partner's world changes

Gottman - Nurturing fondness and admiration

In order to avoid contempt, remind yourself of your partner's positive qualities even as you grapple with their flaws. Express out loud your fondness and admiration for the other.

Gottman- Turn toward each other

Turn towards the "bids" for your partner's affection, attention, humor, or support rather than turning away. State your needs and turn towards your partner's stated needs.

Gottman - Make life dreams come true

Create an atmosphere that encourages each person to talk honestly about his or her hopes, values, convictions, and aspirations and CREATED SHARED MEANING IN THE OTHER'S AMBITIONS

Gottman - Solve your solvable problems when managing conflict

Understand the distinction between managing perpetual problems and managing solvable problems

Gottman - Trust

Try to establish a dynamic in the relationship where each partner knows that the other acts and thinks to maximize their own interests and maximize their benefits not just the other's own interests and benefits

Gottman - Commitment

Believe and act on the belief that your relationship with the person is your lifelong journey, for better or worse. Cherish your partner's positive qualities and nurture gratitude by comparing your partner favorably with others rather than trashing the pa