The document discusses love, relationships, and communication. It defines love and explores Sternberg's triangular theory of love, which identifies three components - passion, intimacy, and commitment. Healthy communication is described as assertive rather than passive or aggressive. For young people, most communication occurs via text, which can enable intimate discussions but challenges in-person social skills. Risks of relationships with large age differences are also reviewed.
The document discusses love, relationships, and communication. It defines love and explores Sternberg's triangular theory of love, which identifies three components - passion, intimacy, and commitment. Healthy communication is described as assertive rather than passive or aggressive. For young people, most communication occurs via text, which can enable intimate discussions but challenges in-person social skills. Risks of relationships with large age differences are also reviewed.
The document discusses love, relationships, and communication. It defines love and explores Sternberg's triangular theory of love, which identifies three components - passion, intimacy, and commitment. Healthy communication is described as assertive rather than passive or aggressive. For young people, most communication occurs via text, which can enable intimate discussions but challenges in-person social skills. Risks of relationships with large age differences are also reviewed.
complicated to define. It is an extremely abstract – and subjective – experience.
Most of us experience love in some way
from when we are very young, whether that is love for a family member, a friend, or even a pet. What is Love?
As we get older, we start to experience
more mature feelings of love. In our teen years, however, these feelings can be amplified by hormones and make us feel out of control.
Stereotypically, people tend to think only
girls and women experience strong feelings of love. But boys and men do as well. They just may express it differently. What is Love?
While love itself can feel differently for
different people and under different circumstances, it can generally be defined as “a feeling of deep affection for another person.”
As a young person gets older, these feelings
transition from loving a friend to having feelings of sexual attraction and the desire to be intimate in ways that are different from the intimacy that comes from friendship. Sternberg’s Triangular Theory of Love Robert Sternberg, a US-based psychologist, created a model that explains different kinds of relationship love.
The three main components of love are
passion, intimacy and commitment. When one, several or all of these are present, a person or relationship experiences a different kind of love. Sternberg’s Triangular Theory of Love PASSION is the powerful feelings that drive us forward in a relationship – including the romantic feelings, the attraction, the desire to be sexually intimate with that person.
INTIMACY refers to the emotional component: the
sense of connectedness or bonding with another person. It also has to do with wanting to help each other and sharing feelings with the other person. Sternberg’s Triangular Theory of Love COMMITMENT is the part of love that gets out of the heart and goes into the head – the rational aspect. This is when a person makes a conscious decision to have their feelings translate into a desire to maintain a relationship over time – to get through the challenges and see past the shortcomings. Sternberg’s Triangular Theory of Love If only intimacy is present, is a friendship or the experience of “liking.”
If only passion is present, without intimacy or
commitment, it is thought of as “infatuation.” It is exciting, but rarely lasts.
If only commitment without intimacy and passion,
it is called “empty love” – relationships that people stay in because they have been together a long time, because it is expected of them, etc. Sternberg’s Triangular Theory of Love If there is passion and commitment without intimacy, it is called “fatuous” love. This might include a whirlwind romance that doesn’t have substance beneath it.
If passion and intimacy, but no commitment, it is
“romantic” love. This might include a relationship that stays in the moment, without plans for the future. This can characterize younger relationships –commitment is a challenge at younger ages, due in part to circumstances as well as to socialization. Sternberg’s Triangular Theory of Love If intimacy and commitment are present but no passion, it is called “companionate” love. This may happen in relationships where sexual desire has decreased or is no longer present, but there is still love. This may also happen in asexual relationships, or in relationships between much older people if they do not experience sexual desire. Sternberg’s Triangular Theory of Love According to Sternberg, the “consummate” or “ultimate” type of love is when all three elements are present.
This does not tend to happen in younger
relationships – and does not always happen in adult relationships either. Sternberg’s Triangular Theory of Love Healthy Communication, Healthy Relationships Types of Communication
Generally speaking, there are three
major ways we communicate: passively, assertively or aggressively. While there are sub-types of communication within this (such as “passive-aggressive”), these are the main categories. Types of Communication
Being PASSIVE is when a person is timid or unclear in
expressing his/her needs – or when they won’t speak up about what THEY want, but just go along with what the other person wants.
Being AGGRESSIVE is when someone tries to get what
they want by bullying the other person into it through threats, raising their voice or giving ultimatums.
Being ASSERTIVE is when we say what we want or mean
directly, but without being hurtful to the other person. For Example…
A person asks whether you want to go to a party you do not
wish to go to.
The PASSIVE response would be to go to the party anyway. In
this way, you have put the other person’s happiness above your own.
The AGGRESSIVE response would be to say, “Oh no, we’re not
going to that party – we’re going here instead.” This minimizes the other person’s desire to go to the party and makes that person feel badly about asking. In addition, the aggressive response exerts power over the situation and relationship. For Example…
An ASSERTIVE response might be:
“I really don’t feel like going to a
party – but why don’t you go, and we can do something tomorrow?” A Few Notes about Healthy Communication Communicating clearly is a skill that continues to develop our lives. Many people confuse assertive with aggressive, thinking that the desired outcome is for them to get what THEY want, rather than finding a way for both people to be happy. Gender plays a big role in this. Boys and men are socialized to be more aggressive than passive, and so learning to balance that as part of being in a relationship is important. Similarly, girls and women are socialized to be more passive and submissive, and so being assertive is often difficult. A Few Notes about Young People and Communication Depending on the area, a lot of communication between young people takes place via text. This is the preferred method of communication, and often results in their being able to discuss intimate topics via text but not in person. Many young people start, maintain and end their relationships via text. Technology use has to be both valued and balanced with in-person interactions and communication. Teens need to be careful about what they send to others via text, especially. Older partners will sometimes forward naked pictures for porn; if a relationship ends, these photos are sometimes shared vastly to destroy the girl’s or woman’s reputation, known as “revenge porn.” A Few Notes about Young People and Communication Finally, although being assertive is considered the most effective way of communicating, there are times when being aggressive is necessary.
In terms of romantic and sexual relationships, a person
whose boundaries are being pushed, who has said “no” while the other person continues to pressure them to do something they don’t want to do, may need to be a bit more aggressive than assertive.
This might include, “if you do not stop disrespecting me, I
will tell your older brother how you are behaving,” or “I said STOP. Now I’m leaving.” Pause!
Please close this PowerPoint
and complete the activity, “Be Assertive.” Once you are done, please return to the next slide on this PowerPoint. Unhealthy Decisions: Having Multiple Partners Having multiple partners carries risks.
Emotional issues relating to jealousy, self-esteem
and more can lead to conflict and poor decision- making.
Physical risks relate to increased risk for STIs,
including HIV, as well as for pregnancy (if a girl or young woman has multiple male partners). Unequal Partners: Men Dating Girls It is common for teens to date adults. Although this can happen among people of all genders, the most common situation is an adult man seeking out a younger woman or teen girl. This section will discuss those types of relationships.
Both the older and the younger partner receive
some benefit from being in this type of relationship. What are some of the perceived benefits? Age Difference: Benefits to Girls and Guys Benefits to Girls Benefits to Guys Increased status Often less mature than girls/women their own Greater chance he will age, therefore greater have money/be able to ability to connect with a buy things for her/her younger girl family Less or no sexual More mature than boys experience, so reduced the same age risk of STIs/HIV More sexually Status of having younger, experienced than boys perhaps more attractive the same age girlfriend or potential Potential for marriage wife Age Difference: Risks to Girls and Guys Risks to Girls Risks to Guys Age difference usually means Not particularly harsh. power differential The age of consent in Greater incidence of Zimbabwe is 16; the unhealthy or abusive penalties depend on the relationships age of the younger Greater incidence of teen person. (Male-female pregnancy and risk of sex only). STIs/HIV to fetus and pregnancy girl Greater chance of older guy having multiple sex partners, thereby increasing risk of STIs/HIV Things to Keep in Mind… Gender role stereotypes affect sexual decision- making.
Men considered more masculine by having
multiple sex partners; more virile by having younger girlfriends.
Sex between same-sex couples is illegal; this
keeps men who have sex with men secret, which in turn causes many to have unprotected sex with girls/women. Things to Keep in Mind…
Girls and women socialized against
verbalizing their wants/needs in a relationship. In abusive relationships, doing so can increase the chance of experiencing violence.
Young people are capable of making good
decisions, but this is an abstract skill that needs to be taught and practiced.
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