All kinds of feelings appear in couple relationships. Among them we could highlight passionate love, affection, hatred or jealousy. Apart from feelings and passions, in the relationship between two people an element of discord can arise, a third person. When this happens, it speaks of a love triangle.
General scheme of the triangle
In most triangles there is a conflict situation. One of the protagonists feels an impulse towards someone other than his partner and finds himself trapped in a dilemma: break the relationship and try a new one with the third person or he may give up love for the third person for some reason. Obviously, there is another alternative path: maintain a parallel relationship with the initial love and the new love.
In any case, there are three figures: one who doubts, the victim who ignores the feeling of his partner towards another or another and, finally, the third person in discord or new love. This scheme is the most common, but it is not the only one. Do not forget that on many occasions couples agree to an open relationship and allow the other to interact with a third party.
Triangular relationships are associated with complex feelings, such as guilt, betrayal, or deception. In any case, the existence of a love triangle is disturbing because it presents itself as a threat against monogamy and against the idea of marital fidelity.
The love triangle is older than the geometry triangles themselves
From a historical point of view, geometry as we know it began with Euclid in the III century BC. C. On the other hand, the love triangle does not have a specific date, as it is a reality as old as humanity itself. In this sense, it is worth remembering that in the Iliad the character of Ulysses is immersed in a love triangle, because he wants to return to his wife Penelope, but on the way he meets the beautiful Calypso. The character of Penelope is also in a triangular conflict, as she awaits the arrival of her husband and at the same time is wanted by other men who love her.
Polyamory is a possible solution to the love triangle conflict
Triangular relationships are normally problematic and painful for one of their protagonists. There is no definitive recipe for solving this type of conflict, but the polyamory approach could reduce the guilt associated with triangular relationships.
As the same word suggests, polyamory consists of having different romantic relationships at the same time. In this way, if a couple is a defender of polyamory, it will be possible to incorporate the triangle normally and without deception.
Photo: Fotolia - shurkin_son
