Final answer:
The three primary components that constitute perceptions of being in love, according to Sternberg's triangular theory, are passion, commitment, and intimacy. These elements combine to form various types of love, such as consummate love, which includes all three.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to Shibles and Zastrow, the three primary components that people use to perceive themselves as being in love are Passion, commitment, and intimacy. This is based on Sternberg's triangular theory of love, which outlines different types of love based on the presence or absence of these components. For instance, consummate love, which is considered the complete form of love, contains all three elements: intimacy, passion, and commitment. Intimacy involves the sharing of personal thoughts and emotions, passion encompasses physical attraction, and commitment refers to the decision to maintain a long-term relationship with someone.
Specified by Sternberg, intimacy is like the emotional closeness and connectedness one feels in a relationship, whereas passion is the drive that leads to romance, physical attraction, and sexual consummation. Commitment is the conscious decision to stay with the person through good times and bad. These components can combine in different ways to form various types of love, such as romantic love (passion and intimacy), companionate love (intimacy and commitment), and others, each with its own unique dynamics and characteristics. The correct answer is A) Passion, commitment, and intimacy. Shibles and Zastrow, in their conceptualization of love, propose that these three components play crucial roles in individuals' perception of being in love. Passion involves the intense emotional and physical desire for the partner, commitment refers to the decision to maintain the relationship and work through challenges, while intimacy encompasses emotional closeness, shared thoughts, and a sense of connection. These components collectively form a comprehensive understanding of romantic love, capturing the emotional, cognitive, and physical dimensions that contribute to a deep and meaningful romantic relationship.