The Four Dimensions of Love and Relationship
When a love relationship becomes toxic, it’s often time for an end. There are many needs that love can fulfill in a person. Whether you’re looking for validation, support, connection, or intimacy, love can fulfill these needs. However, when a relationship becomes abusive or unhealthy, love won’t always fix the problem. Having said that, love can make a toxic relationship stickier and even dangerous. Thankfully, there are ways to exit these relationships without risking further injury.
Dimensions of love
According to Robert Sternberg, “Love has three dimensions: passion, intimacy, and commitment.” Each component varies in intensity of relationship. The four dimensions of love, or levels of intimacy, are derived from the way we express and experience love. We define love in terms of these levels and their levels in our relationships. Below is an explanation of each dimension. Understanding each level of intimacy is essential for successful romantic relationships. Listed below are some characteristics of each dimension.
Passion: The passion component of love is unstable and often changes. While people cannot control the presence of passion, they can recognize its presence in a relationship. Passion: This component of love is most intense and affects relationships in both short and long-term terms. It elicits a high psychophysiological response in humans, but it is short-lived because the person experiencing the passion cannot sustain this state for an extended period.
Stages of love
The stages of love and relationship go from one to five. The first stage consists of a feeling of inseparability, which occurs between two people who have known each other for a long time. The second stage is the recognition of the need to stay together forever, while the third is characterized by a commitment to handle conflict and tackle life together. Both individuals have become comfortable with the other person’s personality and accept each other’s flaws and strengths.
The fourth stage involves spending time with each other. At this stage, couples usually move in together, get married and start a family. They feel safe and secure in the relationship. Many people at this stage think true love has arrived. The relationship has matured and both partners have moved past the infatuation stage. In fact, this is the most critical stage for any relationship. The next stage – the make-or-break stage – is the most difficult to handle.
Influence of hormones on love
One of the most important factors in a healthy love life is the role of the “love hormone,” oxytocin. This hormone, which increases during attachment, boosts dopamine (the happy hormone), which also activates the reward area of the brain. Oxytocin is also responsible for the monogamous bond between partners. Oxytocin is also released by nursing mothers and is produced in breast milk. Oxytocin is secreted by the pituitary gland, a small pea-sized structure in the brain, located below the hypothalamus.
The neuropeptide oxytocin plays a key role in reproduction in large mammals. It aids in the expulsion of the big-brained baby from the uterus and seals a lasting bond between the mother and her offspring. Mammalian offspring require their mother’s milk for survival, but human mothers develop a close emotional bond with newborns immediately after birth. Women who deliver their children by c-section or elect not to breastfeed can still form a strong emotional bond with their child.
Characteristics of a loving relationship
The characteristics of a loving relationship are a mixture of passion, commitment, and intimacy. According to the triangular theory of love, every relationship consists of one or more of these elements. For instance, a close friendship is characterized by intimacy. Passion is the key to love at first sight. A loveless relationship does not have any of these aspects. The following are the characteristics of a loving relationship.
Commitment: To maintain intimacy, couples must listen to one another without judging or discouraging. According to Dr. Lisa Firestone, couples must listen to each other without defending or discouraging each other. By taking each other’s feedback seriously, they give each other a sense of being seen, heard, and cared for. Trying to be “correct” your partner’s mistakes or shortcomings is counterproductive.