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The New Psychology of Love
Love . . . What is it? Can we define it? What is its role in our lives? What causes love, and what dooms it? No single theory adequately answers all our questions about the nature of love, yet there are many theories that can contribute to our understanding of it. This fascinating book presents the full range of psychological theories on love—biological, taxonomical, implicit, cultural—updated with the latest research in the field.
Robert Sternberg and Karin Weis have here gathered more than a dozen expert contributors to address questions about defining love, the evidence for competing theories, and practical implications. Taken together, these essays offer a comprehensive and engaging comparison of contemporary data and theories.
As a follow up to The Psychology of Love , which was published in 1988 and edited by Robert Sternberg and Michael Barnes, this new collection engages with the many changes in the study of love in recent years. New theories are introduced as are modifications to existing theories. Focusing not on a single point of view but on the entire range of current theories, The New Psychology of Love provides today’s definitive account of the nature of love.
Robert Sternberg and Karin Weis have here gathered more than a dozen expert contributors to address questions about defining love, the evidence for competing theories, and practical implications. Taken together, these essays offer a comprehensive and engaging comparison of contemporary data and theories.
As a follow up to The Psychology of Love , which was published in 1988 and edited by Robert Sternberg and Michael Barnes, this new collection engages with the many changes in the study of love in recent years. New theories are introduced as are modifications to existing theories. Focusing not on a single point of view but on the entire range of current theories, The New Psychology of Love provides today’s definitive account of the nature of love.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2002
48 people are currently reading
919 people want to read
About the author
Robert J. Sternberg
305 books187 followersRobert J. Sternberg's spectacular research career in psychology had a rather inauspicious beginning. In elementary school he performed poorly on IQ tests, and his teachers' actions conveyed their low expectations for his future progress. Everything changed when his fourth grade teacher, Mrs. Alexa, saw that he had potential and challenged him to do better. With her encouragement, he became a high-achieving student, eventually graduating summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from Yale University. In a gesture of gratitude, Dr. Sternberg dedicated his book, Successful Intelligence to Mrs. Alexa.
Dr. Sternberg's personal experiences with intelligence testing in elementary school lead him to create his own intelligence test for a 7 th grade science project. He happened to find the Stanford-Binet scales in the local library, and with unintentional impertinence, began administering the test to his classmates; his own test, the Sternberg Test of Mental Abilities (STOMA) appeared shortly thereafter. In subsequent years he distinguished himself in many domains of psychology, having published influential theories relating to intelligence, creativity, wisdom, thinking styles, love and hate.
Dr. Sternberg's Triarchic Theory of (Successful) Intelligence contends that intelligent behavior arises from a balance between analytical, creative and practical abilities, and that these abilities function collectively to allow individuals to achieve success within particular sociocultural contexts. Analytical abilities enable the individual to evaluate, analyze, compare and contrast information. Creative abilities generate invention, discovery, and other creative endeavors. Practical abilities tie everything together by allowing individuals to apply what they have learned in the appropriate setting. To be successful in life the individual must make the best use of his or her analytical, creative and practical strengths, while at the same time compensating for weaknesses in any of these areas. This might involve working on improving weak areas to become better adapted to the needs of a particular environment, or choosing to work in an environment that values the individual's particular strengths. For example, a person with highly developed analytical and practical abilities, but with less well-developed creative abilities, might choose to work in a field that values technical expertise but does not require a great deal of imaginative thinking. Conversely, if the chosen career does value creative abilities, the individual can use his or her analytical strengths to come up with strategies for improving this weakness. Thus, a central feature of the triarchic theory of successful intelligence is adaptability-both within the individual and within the individual's sociocultural context.
Dr. Sternberg's personal experiences with intelligence testing in elementary school lead him to create his own intelligence test for a 7 th grade science project. He happened to find the Stanford-Binet scales in the local library, and with unintentional impertinence, began administering the test to his classmates; his own test, the Sternberg Test of Mental Abilities (STOMA) appeared shortly thereafter. In subsequent years he distinguished himself in many domains of psychology, having published influential theories relating to intelligence, creativity, wisdom, thinking styles, love and hate.
Dr. Sternberg's Triarchic Theory of (Successful) Intelligence contends that intelligent behavior arises from a balance between analytical, creative and practical abilities, and that these abilities function collectively to allow individuals to achieve success within particular sociocultural contexts. Analytical abilities enable the individual to evaluate, analyze, compare and contrast information. Creative abilities generate invention, discovery, and other creative endeavors. Practical abilities tie everything together by allowing individuals to apply what they have learned in the appropriate setting. To be successful in life the individual must make the best use of his or her analytical, creative and practical strengths, while at the same time compensating for weaknesses in any of these areas. This might involve working on improving weak areas to become better adapted to the needs of a particular environment, or choosing to work in an environment that values the individual's particular strengths. For example, a person with highly developed analytical and practical abilities, but with less well-developed creative abilities, might choose to work in a field that values technical expertise but does not require a great deal of imaginative thinking. Conversely, if the chosen career does value creative abilities, the individual can use his or her analytical strengths to come up with strategies for improving this weakness. Thus, a central feature of the triarchic theory of successful intelligence is adaptability-both within the individual and within the individual's sociocultural context.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
January 28, 2022
This is a very science/research based book that is a collection of papers and studies examining the psychology of love and attraction. It is heavy reading but fascinating. I particularly liked the chapter that summarized Sternberg’s research on the triangle of love (intimacy, passion, commitment) and integrated that into the theory of love as a “story.” I also liked the research on respect, which isolated several commonalities in people we admire: empowerment, healing, dialogue, attention, curiosity, and self-respect. I liked the different types of “love” discussed in this book and the emphasis on passionate love that was the main focus. There is a lot of good information to digest and I will turn to it as a good resource in my studies.
February 12, 2021
The New Psychology of Love is written in an academic fashion. At times, it can be quite repetitive and dry, going over similar concepts and theories chapter after chapter. In any case, it was still a thought-provoking read that examines the biological basis of love, the semantics of love, and the role culture has in configuring our own perceptions of love. A worthwhile read that will compel you to analyze your relationships and better understand the mechanisms behind your actions and the actions of others.
June 16, 2022
This collection of entries from various contributing psychologists provides a strong basis for understanding love on a social and personal level. Very diverse in its approach (making some chapters more coherent and relatable than others), I found the book to very useful for understanding my own relationships and approaches to them. My only other complaint, besides the varying chapter styles, would be the APA citation format. I recognize that this is the style which Psychologists have resolved to use, but it's still frustrating to read (and inferior to Chicago style).
March 6, 2022
Great textbook, for ALL readers!
Very insightful, provides numerous perspectives instead of focusing on just one or a few like some texts do, and is overall very helpful in understanding relationships and daily behavior
Very insightful, provides numerous perspectives instead of focusing on just one or a few like some texts do, and is overall very helpful in understanding relationships and daily behavior
February 25, 2019
A beginning to structuring and evaluating love is a help personally!
February 8, 2014
Thank you Sternberg for the beautiful literature behind such an intricate phenomena. The book is held together nicely and seamlessly. I am now more drawn in thoughtful appreciation of the expression and continuation of love in everyday life.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews