What makes 2 people fall in love?

According to Hani Henry, chair and associate professor of psychology in the Department of Sociology, Anthropology, Psychology and Egyptology at AUC, Robert Sternberg's psychological theory covers the most common reasons why we fall in love, namely: intimacy, passion and commitment.

aucegypt.edu - Top Three Reasons Why We Fall in Love

Is twin flame separation permanent?

For some, the separation may last for years before the reunion. For others, it may be brief and necessary to integrate the lessons and growth...

Last updated Mar 22, 2019

Can soulmate connections be toxic?

People may feel an instant and intense connection with each other, but the relationship may be full of highs and lows, and toxic behavior patterns....

Last updated Jul 26, 2020

Do you really know who the “One” is? Your true Soulmate?

Promotion

"Love makes the world go 'round," but exactly why do we fall in love?

According to Hani Henry, chair and associate professor of psychology in the Department of Sociology, Anthropology, Psychology and Egyptology at AUC, Robert Sternberg’s psychological theory covers the most common reasons why we fall in love, namely: intimacy, passion and commitment.

Intimacy

Falling in love for intimate reasons can be described as having a basic friendship; it lacks commitment and passion. “Besides developing a close connection with someone, a lot of people seek intimacy for self-enhancement; it doesn’t necessarily have to be for sex,” said Henry. “Sometimes it’s self-serving. Everyone likes to feel cared for and loved. Women want to feel their femininity, and men want to feel their masculinity.” Adele’s song Hello is a perfect example of how intimacy is captured. In the song's chorus, Adele contacts her ex-boyfriend and pours out her heartbreak from the relationship. She explains that many years have passed and she hasn't done much healing. “Her lyrics are magical and speak for a lot of people who want to have an emotional connection with anyone or a short-term relationship,” he said.

Passion

Letting ourselves fall in love because of desire or strong feelings for a person is normal. Passionate love is developed as a result of feelings that lead to sexual attraction, physical interest and romance. “When you see someone you like, you are captivated by something that draws you to that person,” explained Henry. “The attraction is physical, and there is a fascination with the hair, eyes and body.” In the absence of intimacy and commitment, infatuation is developed with the person you love. “People are drawn and quickly develop lust. Some people are obsessed and see that person as a type of object. You can be with someone for years and don’t feel there is commonality between you and that person,” he said.

Commitment

Commitment is complete love. “People who seek commitment want stability and a healthy relationship,” he said. “If people only seek commitment, they may lack sexual attraction and basic friendship interests.” According to Henry, in modern times, young adults are interested in objects more than relationships. “The objectification comes from consumerism,” he explained. “The more consumeristic the culture becomes, the less interest people have in commitments. Some youth are more interested in impressing people they don’t care about. So everything needs to be consumed, even relationships with people.”

Love Outside the Triangular Theory

Although it’s common that anyone can relate to Sternberg’s love theory, we all have our personal reasons for falling in love. “Your reason for falling in love doesn’t necessarily need to be explained by science. Some personal needs can be the fear of being alone, social peer pressure, satisfaction or religious values,” Henry said. Despite what psychology has to say about love, the type of love we choose defines who we are. We have our own way of understanding what makes us happy and fulfills our human needs. “Some people are caught with a need that meets each dimension of the triangle and they can’t give up on two because of the different needs they get. Love is very complex.”

What does it mean when someone is constantly on your mind?

The more you think about something, it is going to impact the way you feel about it too. We tend not to spend much time pondering things we don't...

Last updated Dec 3, 2020

How much do solo artists get paid?

Artist and gig type Another factor in determining a fair rate for an artist would be the type of artist and size of their act. Here is a general...

Last updated May 18, 2021

Promotion

What does it mean when you look into each other's eyes?

trust Eye-gazing is a sign of trust. People who gaze into each other's eyes are more likely to trust each other than those who do not. In fact,...

Last updated Apr 3, 2018

Can you feel mutual attraction?

What is mutual attraction? A mutual attraction occurs when two people are attracted to each other. This could mean that you both tell each other...

Last updated Jul 12, 2019

Promotion

Which house indicates marriage?

The 7th house in your horoscope is connected to marriage. The planet that facilitates marriage is Venus. Nov 9, 2016

Last updated Jan 30, 2018

Promotion

What country has 9 age of consent?

Asia: The legal age of consent in Asia for sexual activity varies by jurisdiction, ranging from age 9 in Yemen to age 21 in Hong Kong.

Last updated May 24, 2019