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A love triangle[1] is a scenario or circumstance, usually depicted as a rivalry, in which two people are pursuing or involved in a romantic relationship with one person,[2][3][4] or in which one person in a romantic relationship with someone is simultaneously pursuing or involved in a romantic relationship with someone else.[5][6][7][8] A love triangle typically is not conceived of as a situation in which one person loves a second person, who loves a third person, who loves the first person, or variations thereof.[9]
Love triangles are a common narrative device in theater, literature, and film. Statistics suggest that, in Western society, "Willingly or not, most adults have been involved in a love triangle."[10]
The 1994 book Beliefs, Reasoning, and Decision Making states, "Although the romantic love triangle is formally identical to the friendship triad, as many have noted their actual implications are quite different ... Romantic love is typically viewed as an exclusive relationship, whereas friendship is not."[11]
- ^ Also called a romantic love triangle or a romance triangle.
- ^ "love triangle". Cambridge Dictionary. Cambridge University Press. 2022.
A situation in which two people both love a third person:
- ^ Matyushenkov, V. S. (2010). "eternal triangle". Dictionary of Americanisms, Briticisms, Canadianisms and Australianisms. Xlibris Corporation. ISBN 9781450032469.
A situation when two persons both love a third person, usu. of opposite sex.
- ^ "love triangle". Oxford Dictionaries. Archived from the original on July 5, 2022.
A state of affairs in which one person is romantically or sexually involved with two others (one or both of whom may not be aware of or complicit in the situation).
- ^ "love triangle". Macmillan Dictionary. Macmillan Education Limited. 2009–2022.
A situation in which one of the partners in a romantic or sexual relationship also loves someone else.
- ^ Pavis, Patrice (1998). "Boulevard Theatre". Dictionary of the Theatre: Terms, Concepts, and Analysis. University of Toronto Press. ISBN 9780802081636.
For the pleasure of the entire family, this domestic tragedy/comedy revolves around the eternal triangle: Madame, Monsieur and the lover (or mistress). One topographical peculiarity is the all too frequent discovery of Monsieur (or Madame's lover) in shorts in the depths of a closet. The triangle is often adapted to the tastes of the day (introducing elements such as homosexuality, the timid appearance of infantile or mentally deficient characters, the eternal generation gap between the affluent character and the hippie).
- ^ "eternal triangle". Lexico. Oxford University Press. 2022. Archived from the original on April 10, 2021.
A relationship between three people, typically a couple and the lover of one of them, involving sexual rivalry.
- ^ "love triangle". Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English.
A situation in which someone is having a sexual relationship with the partner of a close friend.
- ^ O'Conner, Patricia T.; Kellerman, Stewart (October 22, 2012). "Triangulating love". Grammarphobia.
- ^ A. Pam/J. Pearson, Splitting Up (1998), p. 149.
- ^ R. P. Abelson/R. C. Schank, Beliefs, Reasoning, and Decision-Making (1994), p. 223.