For me, the potential for falling in love begins with a physical attraction. But looks only count for so much. I need an intimate friendship and closeness in order to possibly fall in love. Trust is another important part of a relationship that can lead to love. A prospective partner would also need to share some of my interests, and I would need to share some of his. Finally, and perhaps most important, good communication in a relationship is essential for me to be truly in love. (authors’ files)
Love, attraction, attachment, and sexual communication in intimate relationships are important and complex aspects of people’s lives. In this chapter, we look at these interactions from various perspectives and examine some of the research dealing with them. We consider a number of questions: What is love? What kinds of love are there? What determines why we fall in love with one person and not another? How do various styles of attraction influence our relationships with others? How does sex fit into relationships? How does love relate to jealousy? What qualities or behaviors help to maintain relationship satisfaction over many years? And finally, how does sexual communication contribute to the satisfaction of intimate relationships?