- Published: September 13, 2022
- Updated: September 13, 2022
- University / College: Yale University
- Language: English
- Downloads: 42
In the movie When Harry met Sally, the relationship between man and woman has been put into perspective. Harry and Sally tried reasoning together on the possibility of man and woman to become friends without sex coming in the way. To this, they concluded it was impossible. Psychologists have over the years, tried to explain the same. According to the triangular theory of love, developed by Robert Sternberg, there are three components of love. Namely, these are the intimacy component, the passion component and finally the commitment part.
What defines the strength of love is essentially the absolute power of each of this component- in their singularity. Of importance to note, is that one’s inclination essentially determines which relationship they will have with another party. What this means is that it is possible to have a relationship between man and woman without necessarily getting intimate. Harry and Sally argued that it was even impossible to become friends even when they were both in stable relationships.
Additionally one could use Maslow’s hierarchy of needs to understand the relationship that exists (or should exist) between man and woman. Here, Maslow argues, one can only get into a sound relationship only when they achieve self-actualization. This makes sense as it was only after Harry and Sally had made progress in their careers and social lives that they finally make way for each other. Before all this had happened, they were blinded by their shortcomings and to some extent, naivety. Again, according to the hierarchy one is attracted to what they do not already have. This principally justifies the fact that Harry and Sally had almost completely different habits with Sally even terming Harry as obnoxious; they finally ended up together.