A DIFFERENT LOVE?

A NARRATIVE REVIEW OF ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIPS OF PEOPLE WITH AND WITHOUT DISABILITIES IN LIGHT OF THE TRIANGULAR THEORY OF LOVE

Abstract

Disability and love are complex phenomena that are constantly evolving, as they are understood from distinct perspectives. In this study, the Social Model of Disability and Sternberg’s Triangular Theory of Love were chosen to describe these concepts. The justification for these choices lies in the social and comprehensive scope of both paradigms. Considering the stigma surrounding people with disabilities in various spheres of their lives, especially regarding their romantic relationships, this work is an attempt to break down prejudices, while proposing a narrative review of studies that analyze the love of people with and without disabilities based on Sternberg’s elements of love and marital satisfaction. By investigating studies that employ Sternberg’s Triangular Love Scale (STLS), the research aims to draw a comparison between the romantic relationships of these different groups and address the question of whether there are differences in the experience of love between people with disabilities and those without disabilities.