Document Type
Book Chapter
Publication Date
4-25-2025
Keywords
agape, altruistic love, commitment, eros, intimacy, love styles, triangular theory of love
Disciplines
Developmental Psychology
Abstract
Several theories have emerged over the years to explain love. These theories have emerged in order to understand the nature of one’s experience of love in daily life. The two dominating theories on love are those proposed by John Alan Lee and Robert Sternberg. Lee’s model suggested a model which includes six styles of love, three which are primary, and three that are considered secondary. The primary styles of love are Eros or passionate love, Ludus or game-playing love, and Storge which is friendship-based love. The secondary styles of love are Pragma or practical love, Mania which is possessive love, and Agape which is altruistic love. Lee sought to describe the styles of loving in a relationship as opposed to describing types of people in the relationship.
Recommended Citation
Sattaur, Zahra; Lashley, Lisa K.; and Golden, Charles J., "Love (Components)" (2025). Essays in Developmental Psychology. 118.
https://nsuworks.nova.edu/edp/118