Abstract
Objective: The individual capacity to love (CTL) has been linked to various mental health parameters and is considered to be an important outcome parameter of psychotherapeutic treatment. However, empirical examinations of the concept have not been conducted up to now. The aim of this study was to develop a valid and reliable instrument for the assessment of CTL [Capacity to Love Inventory (CTL-I)] as a trait of personality, which is shown to be related to clinically relevant symptoms and conditions.Method: Four independent healthy samples in Austria (n = 547, n = 174, and n = 85) and Poland (n = 240) were assessed by a prototype of the CTL-I and its final shorter version in a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Internal consistency of the total questionnaire and each subscale was assessed by Cronbach alpha. External validity was measured against Beck Depression Inventory, Quality of Relationship Inventory, Sociosexual Orientation Inventory, Pathological Narcissism Inventory, and Narcissistic Personality Inventory according to the theoretical framework of the CTL concept. Further test–retest reliability was assessed.Results: The CFA confirmed 41 items in six dimensions: Interest in the life project of the other, Basic trust, Humility and gratitude, Common ego ideal, Permanence of sexual passion, and Acceptance of loss/jealousy/mourning. The Cronbach alphas of the total CTL-I and its subscales ranged between 0.67 and 0.90 in all samples, suggesting a valid construct. The CTL-I was moderately positively associated with quality of relationship (Support r = 0.63, Conflict r = -0.66, and Depth r = 0.66) and inversely associated with symptoms of depression (r = -0.37), pathological narcissism (r = -0.29) and promiscuity (r = -0.42). The test–retest reliability of the total CTL-I was high with r = 0.81, suggesting the stability of answers over time.Conclusion: The proposed 41-item version of the CTL-I is a psychometrically sound and validated instrument measuring six dimensions of the concept of the CTL. The reported negative associations with clinically relevant parameters such as depression, pathological narcissism and promiscuity as well as associations with relationship qualities such as conflicts, support, and depth warrant its future use in burdened populations including couples in clinical settings.
Highlights
Love is one of the most fundamental human phenomena and it has been the subject of poets, philosophers and religious considerations for millennia
The capacity to love (CTL)-I was moderately positively associated with quality of relationship (Support r = 0.63, Conflict r = −0.66, and Depth r = 0.66) and inversely associated with symptoms of depression (r = −0.37), pathological narcissism (r = −0.29) and promiscuity (r = −0.42)
The components identified by Kernberg (2011a) served as our guide in developing a psychometric scale capable of measuring the CTL and comprised: Falling in love (FIL), Interest in the other (INT), Basic trust (BTR), Forgiveness (FRG), Gratitude (GRT), Common ego ideal (CEI), Mature dependency, Permanence of sexual passion (PSP), and Loss and mourning (LOM)
Summary
Love is one of the most fundamental human phenomena and it has been the subject of poets, philosophers and religious considerations for millennia. Following the scientific differentiation of love aspects and styles, the first attempt of an unified theory of love was established empirically by Sternberg (1986) with the introduction of love-components such as intimacy, passion and commitment, which facilitate description of different phenotypes of love relations. These descriptive typologies helped to establish phenotypic love styles, there is a lack of love concepts that take into account etiological dimensions and links to psychopathological vicissitudes of love. This would allow understanding love relations from a more dynamic functional perspective
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
