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The 3 Things Every Relationship Needs to Last, According to a Psychologist

A review of 27 studies revisits the triangular theory of love, highlighting intimacy, passion, and commitment as key components.

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There are a million ways to overthink a relationship. Attachment styles. Love languages. Compatibility quizzes. A late-night Reddit search after one out-of-pocket text.

One theory has been around since 1986 and is still getting research support. Psychologist Robert Sternberg’s Triangular Theory of Love says romantic relationships are made up of three things: intimacy, passion, and commitment.

A 2026 scoping review reviewed 27 studies on Sternberg’s theory to see how well it still held up nearly 40 years later. The answer was better than you might expect. Researchers found the same three pieces kept showing up across different cultures and relationship types.

Here’s what each side of........

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