Read each of the following statements, filling in the blank spaces with the name of one person you love or care for deeply. Rate your agreement with each statement according to the following scale, and enter the appropriate number between 1 and 9.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Not at all
Moderately
Extremely
Scoring
Psychologist Robert Sternberg sees love as being composed of three components: intimacy, passion, and commitment. The first 15 items in the scale reflect intimacy, the second 15 measure passion, and the final 15 reflect commitment. Compare your scores closest to your three totals in the appropriate column below to determine the degree to which you experience each of these three components of love.
Intimacy
Passion
Commitment
(Items 1-15)
(Items 16-30)
(Items 31-45)
93
73
85
Significantly below average
102
85
96
Somewhat below average
111
98
108
Average
120
110
120
Somewhat above average
129
123
131
Significantly above average
According to Sternberg, high scores in all three components would indicate consummate love. However, uneven or low scores do not necessarily mean that a relationship is not strong: All relationships have ups and downs, and the nature of a relationship may change over time.