Friday, August 24, 2007

Relationship Myths


Many rules had been made on how to keep long lasting relationship. And one important factor of keeping a relationship is the capital "C" - Communication between partners. What's your communication style to your partner?

Sure there's tons of misinformation out there when it comes to having a healthy relationship. Here are some of the top myths and explanations to help you understand the truth when it comes to how couples should communicate:

1. Fighting is bad for a relationship and often indicates bigger, underlying problems.

False. Often, depending on a couple's relationship dynamic, important issues can surface and be resolved through periods of intense discussion or arguing.

2. Bickering poisons a relationship.

Not necessarily. Some relationships flourish even with a constant stream of bickering. What is most important to a relationship is the intention behind the communication. If a couple bickers as a way to work out minor disagreements, it can be healthy for them. However, if the bickering is intended to hurt or criticize, it will likely erode the relationship.

3. Women are more comfortable with emotional discussions than men are.

True. While it may sound sexist, research has shown that by and large, women are indeed more comfortable discussing emotions. Differences in the rearing of girls and boys appear to give women a leg up when it comes to understanding and confronting emotional issues.

4. The more often a couple has sex, the happier they will be.

False. The amount of sex a couple has doesn't matter. What matters is that both people are happy with both the quantity and quality of sex in their relationship. In addition, the way a couple handles sexual problems (if they arise) will affect how happy they will be with their sex life.

5. If you have financial problems, your relationship is much more likely to break up.

False. Relationships that are strong before the financial difficulties hit tend to remain strong under monetary strain. In fact, these couples sometimes become stronger as they join together to face their problems. On the other hand, relationships that were weak to begin with tend to be torn apart by the additional pressure that financial problems can create.

6. Happy couples do not freely express their anger.

False. Expressing anger when necessary is a sign of a healthy relationship. An unhealthy relationship will actually express contempt and negative criticism along with anger. On the other hand, a healthy relationship will acknowledge the presence of anger without assigning blame. This allows relationship issues to be heard, understood, and dealt with.

7. Compatibility is the key to a successful relationship.

True. The more compatible a couple is, especially when it comes to the way they communicate and handle difficulties, the more successful their union will be in the long term.


(source: Tickle Tests)

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