FRIENDSHIP-BASED LOVE MOST POPULAR

EXPERTS BULLETIN: Pitt Psychology Professor Irene Frieze

February 2, 1999

PITTSBURGH, Feb. 2 -- Under the guidance of professor of psychology Irene Frieze, a class of University of Pittsburgh advanced psychology students found – through their own research – that love based on a deep friendship was the most prominent love style among those questioned.

The research developed a new scale or way of measuring the following five love styles in study participants: eros – extremely physical and passionate love that comes on suddenly; ludus – a fleeting playful love game with several partners; mania – obsessive thoughts about one's partner; storge – calm, steady love based on a deep friendship but sometimes lacking in passion; agape –

self-sacrificing dutiful love regardless if it is reciprocated.

"The data revealed that most men and women defined the love style in their current relationship as storge," said Frieze. "This is what most Americans think of as true love."

Professor Frieze has researched friendship-based love and other issues involving relationships. She is available to discuss:

• surprising findings from the research project

• characteristics of various love styles

• combinations of love styles

• which love style appeared to be the most satisfying

• the accuracy of the students' hypotheses

Contact Professor Frieze at 412-624-4336 or through Sharon Blake

at 412-624-4364.

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