The Subjective Experience of Love through Adult Life

Abstract

While research on interpersonal love is growing, there is a relative dirge of literature on the experience of love across age. This study uses Sternberg's triangular theory of love to investigate how commitment, intimacy, and passion are subjectively experienced among actual lovers across age. The evidence presented here suggests that lovers' definition and communication of commitment, intimacy, and passion remain relatively stable among age cohorts. However, traditional expressions of commitment, affection, and togetherness, significantly declined over age, unrelated to length of relationship.