Triangular Theory of Love

Definition: The triangular theory of love was developed by psychologist Robert Sternberg; it suggests that "true" love has three main components: intimacy, passion, and commitment, each of which he illustrated as a point on an equilateral triangle. Sternberg suggested that healthy relationships may consist of any two of the three points of the triangle, and that  different stages of love can be described as different points between the three angles. A relationship consisting of only one point of the triangle is, he suggested, less likely to last than a relationship consisting of two or three points of the triangle.

Application: This theory is often used to help partners navigate challenging changes in their relationships; by demonstrating that their current position is merely a shift on the triangle, rather than a loss of intimacy, couples can understand their relationship as something in flux and temporal, while also stable. 

Adaptation: The triangular theory of love can also relate to community development; as we work with a community on a specific project, we may go through different phases of motivation- the excitement which sparks a fire for an idea is as necessary as the sustained commitment to see a project through a difficult period, say a lack of funding, although it comes from a different place. For a community project to be created and sustained, the people working on it must have more than just passion, just tangible skills, or just a sense of solidarity; they must have a combination of the three. 

References: 

Sternberg, Robert J. (2004). "A Triangular Theory of Love". In Reis, H. T.; Rusbult, C. E. Close Relationships. New York: Psychology Press. p. 258. ISBN 0863775950.