Lesson 1:
Personal Development 11
*develop psychological and social factors that influence
attraction, love, and commitment in relationships.
Success Criteria
*discuss real-life examples of attraction, love, and
commitment in different types of relationships.
*analyze the factors that contribute to the development and
maintenance of strong emotional bonds.
*evaluate the impact of communication and trust on long-
term commitment and relationship stability.
Question
Imagine two people in a long-term
relationship begin to struggle with
communication and trust. How might
these challenges affect their commitment,
and what strategies could they use to
strengthen their bond?
Answer
Poor communication and lack of trust can
weaken commitment, leading to
emotional distance or conflict. To
strengthen their bond, they can practice
open communication, active listening,
and mutual understanding, as well as
work on building trust through honesty
and consistency in their actions.
- biological, social, psychological factors
Example:
You find yourself admiring someone's smile, hairstyle, or how they carry
themselves.
Example:
You often sit next to a classmate in school, and over time, you start
becoming friends and feeling comfortable with them.
Example:
You find out a friend likes you, and because of that, you begin to feel
attracted to them too.
Love is a deep feeling of affection, care, and emotional connection toward
someone. It can be expressed in different forms — like love for family, friends,
or romantic partners. Love involves support, trust, understanding, and wanting
the best for someone.
Example:
You always help your sibling with schoolwork, comfort them when they’re sad, and
celebrate their achievements. That caring and supportive feeling you have is a
form of love.
The image above is a diagram of Sternberg’s Triangular Theory of Love, which explains
love as being made up of three components:
1.Intimacy – emotional closeness and bonding
2.Passion – physical attraction and sexual desire
3.Commitment – the decision to stay with someone long-term
Top of the Triangle
•Liking: Only intimacy is present. This is deep friendship without passion or commitment.
Left Side
•Romantic Love: A mix of intimacy and passion. It’s often found in the early stages of a
relationship before commitment sets in.
•Infatuation: Only passion is present. It’s intense physical attraction but may lack
emotional connection or long-term plans.
Right Side
•Companionate Love: A combination of intimacy and commitment. It’s a strong
friendship with long-term commitment, often seen in long marriages.
•Empty Love: Only commitment is present. No intimacy or passion—relationships that
continue out of obligation.
Bottom Corner
•Fatuous Love: A mix of passion and commitment, without intimacy.
It’s like a whirlwind romance that quickly leads to commitment, but
lacks emotional depth.
Center
•Consummate Love: The ideal form of love that includes intimacy,
passion, and commitment. It’s balanced and complete.
Example: Sarah feels safe expressing her feelings to her partner and trusts that he
will be there for her. They support each other without fear of abandonment or
being overwhelmed.
Example: Mark constantly texts his girlfriend when she's out
and feels anxious if she doesn't reply quickly. He often asks if
she still loves him, fearing she might leave.
Example: Emma avoids talking about her feelings and pulls away when her
partner wants to get serious. She prefers to keep things casual and distant.
Quiz: The Dynamics of Attraction, Love, and 3. What is a key characteristic of secure
Commitment attachment in adult relationships?
1. Which theory explains attraction based on A. Fear of closeness
the expectation of rewards and costs in a B. Jealousy and control
relationship? C. Comfort with intimacy and trust
A. Evolutionary Theory D. Avoidance of emotional expression
B. Social Exchange Theory
C. Attachment Theory 4. Which of the following is an example of
D. Sternberg’s Triangular Theory proximity influencing attraction?
A. Choosing a partner from an online dating
2. According to Sternberg, which component site
is present in both romantic love and B. Feeling closer to someone who lives in the
companionate love? same neighborhood
A. Passion C. Being attracted to someone with similar
B. Commitment interests
C. Intimacy D. Liking someone after a long-distance chat
D. Attraction 5. Which factor is LEAST likely to contribute to long-term commitment in a
relationship?
A. Mutual respect
B. Physical appearance
C. Shared values
D. Trust and loyalty
6. Which type of love includes high levels of
passion and commitment but low intimacy?
A. Liking
B. Fatuous Love
C. Companionate Love 9. In the context of love, what does the term
D. Consummate Love commitment primarily refer to?
A. Strong physical attraction
7. What role does reciprocal liking play in B. A decision to maintain a relationship long-
attraction? term
A. It reduces emotional investment C. Emotional highs in the relationship
B. It creates dependence D. Conflicts resolved quickly
C. It increases the chance of mutual affection
D. It causes conflict 10. Which of the following is an example of
emotional investment in a committed
8. Which psychological concept explains why relationship?
people tend to be attracted to those who are A. Buying expensive gifts
similar to them? B. Spending quality time and being emotionally
A. Complementarity supportive
B. Similarity Principle C. Posting about the relationship online
C. Halo Effect D. Avoiding conflicts at all costs
D. Mere Exposure Effect
✅ Answer Key:
1.B
2.C
3.C
4.B
5.B
6.B
7.C
8.B
9.B
10.B
