Applying evolutionary psychology of romantic relationships.
People naturally expect the highest levels of intimacy in their romantic relationships. There are different types of intimacies, the primary ones being physical and emotional. When we hear of affairs and cheating, the violation of physical intimacy immediately comes to mind. That is, the cheating partner had a physical relationship with someone other than their …
What is intentional dating? Intentional or conscious dating means dating with a goal and plan in mind. It’s being strategic about your dating efforts so that you can maximize your relational ROI. It’s about decreasing the odds of investing your time in the wrong people and increasing the odds of doing so in the right …
Physical violence in any shape or form is generally unacceptable and illegal. I say ‘generally’ because, in some situations, it can be okay and even necessary. Self-defense, for example. Intimate partner violence, unfortunately, is common. And both genders are equally guilty. Studies show that men and women initiate physical violence in intimate relationships at equal …
For relationships to work, they need to be equal or slightly unequal. Equal relationships are those where both parties gain equally. Slightly unequal relationships are those where one partner gains slightly more than the other. When a relationship is unequal, it rests on shaky grounds. It is unstable. After all, you can’t do business with …
Everywhere you look, people seem to be having trouble with their relationships. What’s going on?Why are relationships so full of problems and conflicts?Why are relationships so hard for people? There are challenges in relationships at every stage, from courtship to parenting. For a relationship to thrive, both partners must navigate these challenges successfully. This article …
People usually prefer romantic partners in the same age range as them. It makes sense because we’re more exposed to people in our age range through school, university, and jobs. People similar in age tend to have similar mate values, i.e., how valuable they’re in the dating marketplace. While most people would love to pair …
Relationships are an enormous time and energy investment. It’s easy to have a crush on someone, but if you want a relationship with them, numerous factors come into play. It becomes an important decision and you have to weigh many factors. When a relationship ends, it’s a huge loss, especially if the relationship was good. …
A rebound relationship is a relationship that a person enters into soon after the end of a serious, prior relationship. The word ‘rebound’ conjures up scenes of an object (such as a rubber ball) bouncing off quickly from wall to wall. Similarly, a person who enters a rebound relationship- the rebounder- gives the impression that …
When two people enter a romantic relationship, they have certain expectations from each other. In most romantic relationships, each partner wants to be the exclusive recipient of the other partner’s love and intimacy. When one partner breaks this rule and diverts their love and intimacy to a third person, they’re said to have cheated. Of …
An ultimatum is a demand for behavioral change accompanied by a threat. Also called Games of Chicken, ultimatums are often “Do this, or else…” type of statements that pressure a person to do something they don’t want to do. In relationships, those who feel their needs aren’t being met issue ultimatums. Issuing an ultimatum is …