Valentine’s Day has a negative (and controversial) reputation as an American holiday for its sentimentalism and commercialization. It is an especially sensitive topic in the field of relationship psychology. Despite its reputation, it’s a great opportunity to do something a little special with your partner. The best gift you can give your partner is a…
“Alexander, don’t forget Valentine’s,” my friend’s words echoed as the call ended. In the chaos of long workdays, these words faded into the back of my mind. My partner at the time, who was French, was expecting a celebration I had overlooked. Caught in my routines, I had let Valentine’s Day slip my mind, leading…
Rom-coms often portray couples as perfect soulmates, effortlessly compatible. But in real life, relationships need work. How do these movies connect to what Gottman’s research tells us about relationships? Rom-coms Spark Our Imagination Rom-coms sometimes showcase impossibly “perfect” lovers, and we get the idea that these made-up stories represent real feelings in relationships before we…
When two people have been in a committed relationship for a long time, a certain sense of familiarity develops. If the partners in this relationship have lost the feeling of closeness, romance, or sexual attraction, that sense of familiarity can turn negative. What resembles a marriage without romance, sexual energy, or intimacy? A sibling or…
Overcontrol, defined as excessive or maladaptive self control, can lead to significant problemsin our relationships. People with overcontrolled traits may not realize their behaviors arecontributing to relationship problems, or may not know how to make changes. Having the abilityfor high self-control isn’t bad; it can be a very good thing. People with high self control…
Most of us have become somewhat familiar with the concept of gaslighting. It’s a cruel and malicious form of emotional abuse used to make someone question themselves and their own sanity by distorting the truth – or outright lying – in order to skew things in your favor. For example, when Linda found evidence of…
Being in love feels wonderful. But what isn’t as wonderful is finding out that that feeling is being used to manipulate you for financial gain. That, unfortunately, is an all-too-common occurrence when it comes to meeting and getting to know a potential romance online. You’ve heard the stories about so-called catfishing, which involves online fraudsters…
Many women want to complain that a good man is hard to find, or that all the good ones are taken. But is that really true, or are women just too apt to overlook the “nice guy?” Dating and relationships are complicated. And for us guys it’s tough to figure out what it is that…
We live in an increasingly fragmented, digitally-focused world. That makes it challenging to forge real connections with your partner in the offline world. Other things can also get in the way of spending time with one another, too – kids, money worries, lack of time, or just feeling like you can’t think of anything to…
While there is no “right” thing you can say to someone who just lost a family member, friend, or significant other, there is general funeral etiquette that you should follow. Knowing the basics can help prevent an embarrassing mistake when emotions are already running high. DO: Dress More Conservatively Modesty reigns during a funeral. You…
