Discuss Robert Sternberg's triangular theory of love. Define its components, and discuss how each changes over the course of a relationship

What will be an ideal response?

Sternberg's triangular theory of love identifies three components—intimacy, passion, and commitment—that shift in emphasis as romantic relationships develop. Intimacy, the emotional component, involves warm, tender communication, expressions of concern about the other's well-being, and a desire for the partner to reciprocate. Passion, the desire for sexual activity and romance, is the physical- and psychological-arousal component. Commitment is the cognitive component, leading partners to decide that they are in love and to maintain that love.
At the beginning of a relationship, passionate love—intense sexual attraction—is strong. Gradually, passion declines in favor of intimacy and commitment, which form the basis for companionate love—warm, trusting affection and caregiving. Each aspect of love, however, helps sustain the relationship. Early passionate love is a strong predictor of whether partners keep dating. But without the quiet intimacy, predictability, and shared attitudes and values of companionate love, most romances eventually break up.