Quadrangular Love Theory and Scale: Validation and Psychometric Investigation

Abstract

This article comprehensively reviews the major components and dimensions of love that researchers operationalized in psychometric scales throughout recent decades. The Quadrangular Love Theory (QLT) synthesizes the achievements of psychometrics of love and demonstrates – theoretically and empirically - that they are grouped in four umbrella love dimensions: Compassion and Affection, which characterize the feelings toward a partner, and Closeness and Commitment, which characterize the feelings regarding a relationship. To test this theory, the authors developed the Quadrangular Love Scale (QLS) and explored its construct validity and psychometric properties in two studies utilizing various samples. Study 1 (N = 592) generally supported convergent and discriminant validities and internal reliability of the four dimensions. Study 2 (N = 584) provided additional support to the discriminant validity of QLS in terms of personality traits as predictors of major love feelings and love attitudes as typological differences of experiencing these feelings.