When we think of love, our thoughts often turn to the great love stories: Romeo and Juliet, Cinderella and the Prince, etc. According to Sternberg, these stories are much more than entertainment. They shape our beliefs about love and relationships, and our beliefs in turn influence our behavior. Many of these stories have their origins in the culture, in folk tales, literature, theater, films, and television programs. As we experience relationships, our stories evolve, taking into account unexpected events.

But what exactly is love? In this course, we will review some of the leading theories.

Sometimes people move quickly from initial impressions, to friendship, to the more intense, complex, and mysterious state of romantic love. If love endures, temporary passionate love will mellow into a lingering companionate love. Passionate love mixes something new with something positive. We intensely desire to be with our partner. Seeing our partner stimulates blood flow to a brain region linked to craving and obsession.

Using the concept of continuing maturation throughout interpersonal relationships, this course focuses on identifying certain aspects that may need personal development. Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:

--Analyze how attitudes form, change, and how they impact our behavior and thinking;

--Recognize the various psychological theories on sexual attitudes, love, and behavior modification.

--Apply learned principles to improve personal dating/love relationships and professional encounters as well.