Hypothetical scenario, your friend is struggling with their marriage of seven years. Your friend indicates they don't know if they are still "in love" with their spouse.

Define and explain Sternberg's triarchic theory of love to the friend.

How might these types of love influence expectations about love and marriage?

How would this understanding of love help someone assess his or her relationship?

Construct a dialect that includes the friends' statements and advice and guidance based on your knowledge of Sternberg's theory.

During the conversation, your friend suggests that there is no way to define or explain love ("It's one of those things you just can't put your finger on," they say.) Reference the following terms and ideas to help your friend to sort out their feelings.

• Passion is the physical and sexual attraction to another.
• Intimacy is the emotional feelings of warmth, closeness, and sharing in a relationship.
• Commitment is the cognitive appraisal of the relationship and the intent to maintain the relationship.

Within these different components, there are many types of love. Discuss how one might want to include one or more of the types below.

• Liking: Intimacy alone (friendships)
• Infatuation: Passion alone (sexual attraction, mutual sexual attraction with no other components)
• Romantic Love: Intimacy and Passion (often in the early stages of a relationshipno commitment)
• Companionate Love: Intimacy and Commitment (friendship, marriage with young kids)
• Fatuous Love: Passion and Commitment (no intimacy, also known as stalker love)
• Consummate Love: Passion, Intimacy, and Commitment (ultimate love)
• Empty Love: Commitment alone