Final answer:
The intimacy component is the part of love concerning feelings of closeness and connectedness, distinct from passionate love and an essential aspect of companionate love.
Step-by-step explanation:
The component of love that embodies feelings of closeness, affection, and connectedness is referred to as the intimacy component. This concept is part of the triangular theory of love, developed by psychologist Robert Sternberg, which suggests that love has three components: intimacy, passion, and commitment. Among these, intimacy relates to the emotional closeness and bondedness felt between two people and is distinguished from the ardent, physically motivated desires of passionate (or romantic) love.
Intimacy is crucial for the development of deeper, long-term loving relationships and is often found in companionate love, which entails a deep affection without the intensity of passion typically associated with early romantic relationships.