A Typology of Styles of Loving

Abstract

Constructed ideal types differentiating between several con trasting conceptions of intimate adult affiliation ("love") were de rived from fictional and non-fictional literature. A new interview method was devised to enable individuals "in love" to reconstruct their experience in codeable form. The constructed types were tested and revised, producing a structured typology of readily distinguish able styles of loving. The salient characteristics of the six most significant styles are summarized.