Definition

Companionate love refers to a variety of love that is durable, fairly slow to develop, and characterized by interdependence and feelings of affection, intimacy, and commitment. Companionate love is also known as affectionate love, friendship-based love, or attachment. Because it requires time to develop fully, this kind of love is often seen between very close friends or romantic partners who have been together for a long time.

Measurement

Researchers typically measure companionate love using self-report methods, which involve asking people to respond to questions about their feelings for a specific other person (e.g., a friend, dating partner, or spouse). People might simply rate their level of companionate love for the other person: “How much warm, caring, affectionate love do you feel for your partner?”

Alternately, people might report ...