Intimacy
Sternberg's Theory of Love
According to psychologist Sternberg: interpersonal relationships of love are based on three components: intimacy, passion and commitment. The ideal relationship has all three. The element of passion includes both sexual and non-sexual passion or something called limerance. Limerance is a form of a psychological obsession and over-idealization of someone where you put them on a pedestal and aren’t aware of their faults or shortcoming. Intimacy and commitment are both also very important to a relationship.
PASSION
Intimacy
by Arvind Kolapkar “ Lovers ” “ Title Unknown ” by Arvind Kolapkar
Commitment
In the video below, Sherry Turkle talks about how we are feeling more and more alone and are reaching out to technology to be able to get a sense of belonging and community. She is saying that we are expecting more more technology than we are from each other. What is going to happen to our relationships if we are spending more and more time online, away from each other?
I think that a lot of times older people think that they have the upper hand over adolescents because adolescents are so young and haven’t really experienced enough of the world to really know much about it. However, as a teacher, I will have to remember that just because I may over-simplify what an adolescent is feeling doesn’t make the feeling any less strong in them. If a 16 year old boy and girl claim to be ‘in love’, who am I to say, “ oh, you’re only 16 you don’t even know what real love is!”
I think that is a very closed-minded way to behave as an educator of youth. However, many adolescents, even if claiming to be in love, aren’t so educated about the practice of safety in terms of their sexual exploration. It is important for the teacher to educate their students about the practices of safe sex and condom use. Many times, teens aren’t able to see beyond their immediate circumstances because their rationality hasn’t developed yet and consequences aren’t something that they consider. In other words, they see the benefits of pleasure seeking without understanding the risks involved! However, to educate teens that pregnancy is a definite possibility if condoms aren’t used is essential for the teacher. Also to let my student know that pregnancy, if at the wrong time in an individual’s life, can really limit a person’s life and potential for success in other domains.