Coon & Mitterer (2012) claim that we as humans are social animals and that we have internal needs and desires to be associated with other people. They claim that nobody wants to be alone voluntarily and that is why we gravitate towards people who display similar characteristics, physical attributes, situations or interest as us (Coon & Mitterer, 2012). This gravity pull is known as Interpersonal Attraction, which explains the social attraction we have to another person (Coon & Mitterer, 2012). Interpersonal attraction usually comprises of the following aspects: physical nearness, physical attractiveness, intelligence, similarity, self-disclosure and reciprocity (Coon & Mitterer, 2012). This notion however, is not classified the same as being …show more content…
Sternberg (1986) suggests that this meaning or feeling can be a socialised idea through modelling and that it is a genetically transmitted instinct that every human being has inherited. He argues that many people may be in a relationship however, it may not constitute as a romantic attachment according to his Triangular Theory of Love (Sternberg, 1986). As mentioned in the previous paragraph, the ideal romantic relationship has elements of passion, intimacy and commitment, which is collectively identified as consummate love (Sternberg, 1986). Passion describes as the push towards sexual intercourse, physical attraction and romance, which are facilitated by one’s motivational and arousal factor (Sternberg, 1986). Intimacy describes as feelings relating to closeness and tight connections towards the significant other, which are associated with feelings of warmth, safety and comfort (Sternberg, 1986). Commitment describes as either the short-term decision to love someone, which further extends to the long-term commitment to maintain that love for that particular person (Sternberg, 1986). This aspect heavily relies on one’s cognitive abilities (Sternberg, 1986). This notion however does not apply to every …show more content…
A strategy is defined as a developed resolution to adaptive complications, that shows no sign of awareness or consciousness on the part of the strategy implied (Buss & Schmitt, 1993). With this said, the types of strategies that are formed are based on the notion of parental investments (security and resources), sexual accessibility and social status, fertility and sexual attractiveness (Buss & Schmitt,