Romantic Psychology

Attachment Theory, proposed by John Bowlby, suggests that early interactions with caregivers shape an individual's ability to form secure and healthy romantic relationships in adulthood.

Sternberg's Triangular Theory of Love proposes that love consists of three components: passion (intense feelings of attraction and desire), intimacy (closeness and understanding), and commitment (a conscious decision to stay together).

The Honeymoon Phase refers to the initial stage of a romantic relationship, characterized by intense feelings of love, passion, and idealization of the partner.

The Halo Effect refers to the tendency to form a positive impression of someone based on a single positive trait, such as physical attractiveness, and then generalize that impression to other areas of their personality and behavior.

The Similarity-Attraction Hypothesis proposes that individuals are more likely to be attracted to partners who share similar attitudes, values, beliefs, and interests.

Relationship Inertia refers to the tendency to stay in a relationship even when it is no longer satisfying or healthy, due to factors such as habit, fear of change, or a sense of obligation.

Merging of Identities refers to the tendency for partners in a romantic relationship to lose their sense of individuality and see themselves as a single, unified entity.

Relationship Idealization refers to the tendency to view a romantic relationship as perfect and flawless, ignoring or downplaying any problems or challenges.

The Complementary-Attraction Hypothesis proposes that individuals are attracted to partners who possess traits that complement their own, creating a sense of balance and harmony in the relationship.