Triangular Theory of Love: Is He Truly Sincere With You?

1. Theoretical Background: Sternberg's Triangular Theory of Love

Psychologist Robert J. Sternberg proposed the famous 'Triangular Theory of Love' in 1986. He believed that perfect love consists of three basic components, like the three sides of a triangle, none of which can be missing:

• Intimacy: Emotional closeness, understanding, support, and sharing. It brings warmth and a sense of security.
• Passion: Strong attraction, romantic feelings, and sexual desire. It brings excitement and longing.
• Commitment: The decision to love someone and the willingness to put in effort to maintain the relationship. It brings stability and responsibility.

Different combinations of these three components form eight different types of love relationships. This test is based on this classic theory to help you objectively analyze the other person's pattern of emotional investment and judge whether this relationship is 'complete love' or 'incomplete love'.

2. The Eight Types of Love Based on Combinations of the Three Components

• Nonlove: All three components are absent; it is merely an ordinary social relationship.
• Liking: Only intimacy, without passion or commitment. Common in friendship.
• Infatuation: Only passion, lacking intimacy and commitment. It is easy to fall in love at first sight but hard to sustain.
• Empty Love: Only commitment, lacking intimacy and passion. Common in emotionally depleted marriages.
• Romantic Love: Intimacy + passion, but lacking commitment. The experience is beautiful but lacks future planning.
• Companionate Love: Intimacy + commitment, lacking passion. Like the affection in a long-term marriage.
• Fatuous Love: Passion + commitment, lacking intimacy. Like a whirlwind marriage, lacking deep understanding.
• Consummate Love: All three are present; the ideal form of love.

Around these three core dimensions, this test uses scenario-based questions to assess the other person's actual behavior in the relationship, ultimately giving a type judgment closer to how you truly feel and offering targeted relationship advice.

3. Test Content and Scoring Method

This test has 20 questions in total, covering three aspects: intimacy, passionate experience, and commitment behavior. Each question describes a specific life scenario or psychological tendency; please answer according to your actual feelings or observations about 'the other person'. Each question is scored 1-5, from 'completely inconsistent' to 'very consistent'. The system will separately calculate the scores of the three dimensions of intimacy, passion, and commitment, and match the corresponding love type based on the combination of high and low scores.

4. Why Take This Test?

In love, we are often dazzled by a single feeling (such as a racing heart or being moved) and overlook the other important parts of the relationship. Through this test, you can:

• Objectively assess the other person's level of investment and the quality of the relationship.
• Identify the key elements that may be missing in the relationship, so you can communicate or adjust with more direction.
• Avoid overlooking long-term risks because of being 'love-struck', or missing out on genuine love because of being overly rational.

This test is for people who are in a relationship, married, or in an ambiguous relationship, helping you more clearly 'see' the shape of your love.