Love Lecture Review

Flashcards covering key concepts from the lecture on Love, including research methodologies and Sternberg's Triangular Theory of Love.

Construct

A hypothetical concept that is not directly observable but is inferred from observable behaviors or variables.

Operationalization

The process of defining a fuzzy concept, making it measurable and observable.

Validity

The extent to which a measure accurately reflects the construct it is intended to measure.

Self-report

A research method where participants provide information about themselves, often through surveys or interviews.

Observation (methodology)

A research method where researchers directly observe and record behavior.

Correlational Studies

Research that examines the relationship between two or more variables, indicating whether they vary together.

Cross-sectional study

A type of correlational study where measurements are taken at a single point in time.

Longitudinal study

A type of correlational study where measurements are taken many times over an extended period.

Dependent Variable (DV)

The outcome variable that is measured in an experiment; thought to be affected by the independent variable.

Independent Variable (IV)

The variable that is manipulated by the experimenter; thought to cause changes in the dependent variable.

Control (in experiment)

Ensuring all aspects of a situation are held constant except for the independent variable.

Random Assignment

A procedure in experiments where each participant has an equal chance of being in any given experimental condition, to ensure groups are comparable.

Sternberg's Triangular Theory of Love

A theory proposing that love is composed of three interacting components: intimacy, passion, and commitment.

Intimacy (Sternberg)

The emotional component of love, involving feelings of closeness, warmth, sharing, and mutual understanding.

Passion (Sternberg)

The motivational component of love, including physical attraction, sexual arousal, and intense longing for union.

Commitment (Sternberg)

The cognitive component of love, involving the decision to love someone and the resolve to maintain that love.

Liking (Sternberg)

Love characterized by intimacy alone, without passion or commitment (e.g., friendships).

Infatuation (Sternberg)

Love characterized by passion alone, without intimacy or commitment (e.g., 'love at first sight').

Empty Love (Sternberg)

Love characterized by commitment alone, without intimacy or passion (e.g., arranged marriages early on).

Fatuous Love (Sternberg)

Love characterized by passion and commitment, without intimacy (e.g., whirlwind courtships).

Romantic Love (Sternberg)

Love characterized by intimacy and passion, without commitment (e.g., summer romances).

Companionate Love (Sternberg)

Love characterized by intimacy and commitment, without passion (e.g., long-term friendships or marriages where passion has dwindled).

Consummate Love (Sternberg)

Love characterized by a perfect balance of intimacy, passion, and commitment, considered the ideal form of love.

Non-love (Sternberg)

The absence of all three components of love: intimacy, passion, and commitment.

Passionate Love

A state of intense longing for union with another, characterized by cognitive, emotional, and behavioral characteristics, and physiological arousal.

Cognitive characteristics of passionate love

Includes intense focused attention on the partner and obsessive thinking about them.

Affective (emotional) characteristics of passionate love

Includes euphoria, emotional dependency, and increased energy.

Behavioral characteristics of passionate love

Includes seeking proximity to the partner and sexual bidding.

Euphoria (in passionate love)

A feeling of intense happiness associated with passionate love.

Ventral Tegmental Area (VTA)

A brain region associated with the reward system, shown to be activated during passionate love and also involved in addiction.

Partner Choice (evolutionary aspect)

The idea that passionate love may have evolved to promote the selection and maintenance of a specific partner, conserving time and energy associated with courtship.