Latest news with #romanticrelationships
Forbes
5 days ago
- General
- Forbes
2 Myths About How Romantic Love Affects Friendships, By A Psychologist
Many of us experience mixed emotions when our friends start dating or enter new romantic relationships. Even though you're happy for them, you may also feel resentful and undervalued as they start prioritizing their love lives. You miss the time you spent together and start worrying about losing out on such a close friendship. However, your friendships need not suffer as much as you think. New research published this June in Personal Relationships explains that the transition from singlehood to coupledom doesn't always push our friends away. Researchers conducted two studies: one assessed participants' perceptions of their best friendship before and after their friend entered a romantic relationship. The other evaluated their real-time friendships over a seven week period. Here are two key insights from the June 2025 study that contradict the popular notion that romantic relationships always derail friendships. 1. Your Negative Perception Of Your Friendship May Be Exaggerated Most of us place a great deal of importance on who we spend the rest of our lives with. Due to this, it's true that many people do treat their friends like placeholders until they find romantic love and companionship. In fact, research shows that people in more committed romantic relationship stages (or marriages) have fewer friends and are less likely to value the opinions of the ones who remain in their lives. So, it's no wonder we feel so uncertain and anxious about where our friendship stands when they're suddenly busier with their new partners. It's natural to find this perceived sense of distance hurtful. However, it appears that we overestimate the 'threat' romantic relationships really pose. The truth is, many of us anticipate greater disruption than what actually occurs. In the first study, participants were asked to recall specific best friendships that were impacted by romantic connections. They recalled feeling as though their friendships had gotten worse. They also stated feeling less close to their friend and experiencing more uncertainty. Researchers suggested the possibility of participants amplifying the changes they had experienced due to their cognitive bias of expecting the worst. This may have made them perceive small changes as major rifts. They explain that friends 'might nostalgically misremember the time before their best friend's new relationship as better than it was, embellishing how the friendship was in the past and exaggerating the impact of the friend's new romantic relationship on the friendship.' Just because your friend is preoccupied in a new relationship does not mean they have stopped caring for you or don't prioritize you still. Whether they allow their relationship to overpower their friendships is deeply personal to their ability to value and balance both, rather than an inevitable occurrence. 2. Your Perception May Differ From Reality In the second study, which tracked the real-time impact of friends entering romantic relationships, researchers found no major drop in how people felt about their friendships after their friends got into relationships. This finding differs from the first study, where participants remembered their friendships feeling weaker. This is because our memory may distort how we interpret changes in our relationships. 'There is the lived reality of what happens when one's friend enters a romantic relationship, and there is the recalled experience of what one thinks happened when one's friend entered a relationship. Our results suggest that these experiences may differ, perhaps because people nostalgically recall the time when their friend was single,' the researchers write. The study also found that your emotional response to a friend's new relationship may be shaped more by your attachment style than actual friendship changes. Feelings of uncertainty or lower emotional support from their friend were amplified if participants had more insecure attachment styles, which are characterized by a fear of abandonment, a need for reassurance and a difficulty trusting others to be consistent in their lives. As a result, individuals with these attachment styles may perceive their friend's relationship as a threat, even when it isn't. If you find that contact with a close friend (who has a partner) is slowing down, do not panic or jump to conclusions. Yes, your friendship requires effort, but effort is a two-way street. It is not your sole responsibility to keep trying to reconnect with them. If they value you as much as they used to, they will make it known. Even if your quantity of time together changes, it doesn't mean the quality will. Being a good friend means showing the other person some grace, and understanding that it takes time to attend to multiple connections in one's life. As the friend in a new relationship, intentional action and communication is everything. Let your friends know how much you value them, as they might need some reassurance, no matter how happy they are for you. Do you feel rooted in your social connections, regardless of whether they're in relationships? Take this science-backed test to find out: Social Connectedness Scale
Forbes
26-07-2025
- General
- Forbes
The #1 Motivation That Predicts Romantic Success, By A Psychologist
Research reveals that your likelihood of finding love depends largely on your reasons for searching ... More for it in the first place. Here's why. Romantic relationships are viewed almost universally as one of the most important milestones in life, which all people should achieve at some point or another. For some, this is a great motivator; for others, this instills a sense of pressure. That said, not all people pursue romantic relationships for this reason alone. There's even a growing population of individuals who aren't inclined to search for a partner at all. These differing motivations (or lack thereof) were researcher and lead author Geoff MacDonald's main inspiration in a May 2025 study published in Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin. More specifically, he sought to uncover which motivations were associated with greater and faster romantic success — if any at all. The Different Motivations For Romantic Pursuit To assess what motivates individuals in their pursuit for a relationship, MacDonald developed a 24-item questionnaire. In total, the measure assesses six core categories of motivation, all of which stem from Self-Determination Theory. In the initial study of over 1,200 single adults, MacDonald and his team were able to associate these different motivations with a host of personality traits: 'Self-Determination Theory was useful because it focuses on a variety of reasons people pursue goals,' explained MacDonald in an interview with PsyPost. He continued, 'And I think most people know that there is some mix of these at play when they are thinking about dating.' Based on this six-factor framework, MacDonald and his research team assessed the extent to which these motivations influenced individuals' desire to find a partner. In turn, they were able to predict which of these motivations — or mixture thereof — led to success in finding a romantic relationship. Which Motivations Led To Romantic Success In the second half of the 2025 study, MacDonald and his co-authors assessed over 3,000 single adults' motivations for finding a partner using their newly developed 24-item scale. Six months later, they checked in to see which of these participants were able to find a partner. Overall, participants with intrinsic and identified motivations were much more likely to find a partner in the six-month timespan. That is, individuals who sought relationships because they viewed them as either enjoyable or personally valuable had more success than those who didn't. As MacDonald explained in his interview, 'The people who both reported that they felt more ready for a relationship and were more likely to be partnered six months later were those who said they were interested in a relationship because they enjoy them and because it was an important life goal.' In contrast, he explained, 'The people who were more strongly motivated to be in a relationship to avoid feeling bad about themselves were particularly unlikely to be in a relationship six months later.' What Motivates You? If, despite your best efforts, you haven't quite found your person yet, it might be worth taking a moment to ask yourself what's actually driving your desire. We're told so often that finding love is a milestone we have to strive for. In turn, we've come to equate relationships as signals of maturity, security and even success. But the moment we internalize these reasonings is the moment we start chasing a relationship for reasons that don't truly serve us in the grand scheme of life. So, take a moment to be honest with yourself: If any of these questions resonate with you, you have no reason to feel ashamed. However, it should prompt you to pause and check in with yourself before continuing your search for love. In most cases, lasting and fulfilling relationships aren't born out of place of pressure, fear or ego. As MacDonald puts it, 'It's boring old wisdom, but I think there is something to the idea that you need to get right with yourself first before putting yourself out there.' Continuing, he explains, 'When you get to a place where a relationship seems like it would be enjoyable and meaningful for its own sake, and not so much about validating your ego, that might be a sign that you're ready.' Love is something that, for a majority of people, you simply have to learn to grow into; it's not a title or status you have to earn or vie for. The more honest you are with yourself about why you want it, the sooner you'll find a partner who sees the good in sharing their life with you. Is the fear of being single sabotaging your search for love? Take this science-backed test to find out: Fear of Being Single Scale
Wall Street Journal
12-07-2025
- Wall Street Journal
The Case for Snooping on Your Kid's Phone
Your child's phone is a portal into their world: friendship drama, romantic relationships and school worries all play out on their social-media accounts and in their text messages. It's also how kids can be exposed to a world of danger. While you can set up parental controls and monitoring services, nothing is more effective than simply looking at the phone itself. But should you?
Daily Mail
06-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
How the Mercury and Venus transits will influence your relationships, according to an astrologer - and which signs will be most affected
Whether you're on the lookout for a new partner or simply keen to understand how an important relationship will develop, the 'transits' of Mercury and Venus can tell us a lot about our love lives. A transit is when a planet passes between the Earth and the sun and, according to astrologer Polina Arutiunian, there are three periods between now and the end of 2025 that will see these two planets make this journey. With the first having happened at the end of June, the second occurring in early October and the third taking place at the beginning of November, each one will be significant in a different way. The transits of Mercury and Venus are particularly important when it comes to romantic relationships thanks to the meanings of these two planets. Mercury, Polina explains, 'symbolises the core communication', which, in the context of relationships, refers to the 'intellectual connection we feel with others.' The Nebula astrologer adds: 'It's about that 'talking stage,' the meetings where we verbally express ourselves and measure each other up. 'Needless to say, when Mercury moves from its position, it might affect the dynamic we have with each other.' And, when it comes to Venus, which is the planet of romance, its transits indicate the direction that a relationship is moving in. Polina says: 'This planet is a symbol of the close bonds and loving relationships we form with others, a symbol of the lifelong partnership we form with our significant other.' She explained what effect the movements of these planets during the second half of the year will have on relationships - and identified the star signs that will be most impacted. JUNE 30 - AUGUST 24 Mercury Retrograde in Leo: The Start of Shadow Period 'This summer, we have a really interesting sequence of astrological events,' Polina notes. 'First of all, Mercury is entering its shadow retrograde period in Leo from June 30 to August 24. 'We all may feel it as slowing down a bit on an emotional level. You might feel like you need to take a break from drama, or to think through what is going on with your feelings.' She adds that it's the ideal time to 'revisit old situations' that might still be lingering in a relationship and advises partners to look for 'new insights' rather than going over old ground. 'If you had any fun plans with your partner that you never went through, do them now! Try a new hobby together, go to that concert or event you've wanted to visit.' Venus-Uranus Transition into Gemini 'Another thing to look forward to is a Venus-Uranus conjunction, starting on June 30,' Polina adds. 'Your dynamic with another person might shift. You might go from surface-level attraction to deep intellectual connection. 'Or maybe you'll see someone in a different light — who ordered 'from friends to lovers' this summer? Maybe it's one for you, coming right up! 'Of course, it might turn out the opposite way. Maybe a romantic spark will fade, and instead a friendship will blossom. Whatever the case might be, the signs that will be affected the most here are: Taurus, Libra and Aquarius.' Yet, there is no need to be worried by this transit, given it's temporary, Polina adds. 'On July 31, Venus enters Cancer and comes closer to Jupiter. This means the emotional spark in your relationship may return with even more intensity, under the influence of Jupiter.' OCTOBER 4 Venus Conjunct South Node: Mercury in Libra Astrologer Polina notes that the second important transit of both Venus and Mercury will take place on October 4. 'We are going to pass the eclipse season by that time, and right after that, we might feel a bit nostalgic in our romantic life.' 'Around this date, you might run into someone from the past. They might suddenly contact you, or something will remind you about past relationships or partners. 'You can also feel like this period is somehow connected to spring events of 2025, so don't be surprised if you feel some deja vu. The most affected signs on this particular transit will be: Virgo, Pisces, Taurus and Libra, according to Polina. 'With Mercury in Libra, you may have more conversations about relationships during this period, with the focus mostly on your partners.' Yet, Polina reminds us not to turn it into an argument. Rather, try to maintain a 'more diplomatic Libra energy.' NOVEMBER 10-30 Mercury Retrograde in Sagittarius: Emotions are High The third significant period of 2025 runs from November 10 to November 30. Polina warns that, emotionally, it may be a particularly intense period since this Mercury retrograde is taking place between the signs Sagittarius and Scorpio. 'You might expect the exes to return to your life,' she says. 'Or maybe it will be you who will feel the temptation to send that text or make that call? 'As Mercury will be going back to Scorpio, the chance is pretty that an old conflict or repressed negativity may resurface. 'Despite that, this is the right time to work on that negativity together. Try to have an honest conversation and resolve what's been bothering both of you.' Venus in Scorpio: More Kindle for the Fire Venus in Scorpio may up the ante in what is already an intense period, according to Polina. 'It's highlighting the importance of taking emotional weight off our shoulders from time to time. She says it's a particularly timely reminder for those born under Scorpio, Virgo and Taurus - the signs that will be most affected.t: 'If you share one of those zodiacs, you might feel the most impact during this time,' Polina explains. She adds: 'Don't forget to think rationally about what's best for you. 'Nevertheless, if you keep your wits about you, things will turn out rather positively.
Yahoo
30-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
What Younger Generations Refuse To Compromise On In Relationships Anymore
In an era where swiping right has become a cultural norm, younger generations are drawing hard lines in the sand regarding what they will and will not compromise on in romantic relationships. This isn't a whimsical pursuit of the perfect partner, but a deliberate and discerning approach to love. While previous generations may have prioritized stability and tradition, today's youth is driven by authenticity, equality, and meaningful connections. Here are the 13 things younger generations refuse to sacrifice in their romantic pursuits. Gone are the days when emotional stoicism was seen as a strength. Today, emotional intelligence is a non-negotiable trait in romantic partners, valued for its ability to foster genuine connection and empathy. A partner who can read between the lines and respond with sensitivity is seen as a keeper. According to psychologist Dr. Lisa Feldman Barrett, emotional intelligence can significantly improve relationship satisfaction, making it a critical factor for many young individuals. Younger generations are no longer willing to settle for partners who lack introspection or emotional depth. They understand that relationships require vulnerability and open communication. It's not just about understanding one's own emotions; it's about recognizing and valuing the emotional landscapes of others. This intelligence is seen as a cornerstone for building a fulfilling and enduring partnership. For younger generations, gender roles are not just outdated; they're irrelevant. Many young couples today prioritize an equitable division of labor, both in and outside the home. They understand that a successful partnership thrives on mutual respect and shared responsibilities. The days of expecting a partner to fit into a predefined societal role are long gone. This shift is not just about household chores; it extends to financial contributions and emotional labor. Both partners are expected to show up equally in all aspects of life. This balance not only fosters a more harmonious home life but also ensures that neither partner feels overburdened. It's a new frontier in relationship dynamics, and for young lovers, it's nonnegotiable. While love often brings couples together, younger generations fiercely protect their personal space and independence. This isn't about keeping a partner at arm's length; it's about maintaining a sense of self. According to a study in the Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, autonomy within a relationship leads to greater satisfaction and less conflict. Young individuals are increasingly aware that a healthy relationship thrives when both partners have room to grow individually. Independence is cherished not out of selfishness but as a means to nurture the relationship. It's about pursuing individual passions, hobbies, and friendships that contribute to a well-rounded life. By maintaining their own identities, both partners can bring fresh perspectives and energy into the relationship. This balance of closeness and independence is viewed as essential for long-term happiness. Communication has always been the bedrock of any relationship, but younger generations have elevated it to an art form. They value transparency and the ability to express thoughts and feelings without fear of judgment. This openness fosters trust and allows for the resolution of conflicts in constructive ways. There is little patience for those who shy away from difficult conversations. The emphasis is on creating a safe space where each partner feels heard and understood. Avoiding passive-aggressive tendencies and mind games is crucial. Instead, the focus is on articulating needs and desires clearly and respectfully. This approach not only strengthens the bond between partners but also builds a foundation for resilience in the face of challenges. In an increasingly complex world, younger generations know the importance of aligning on core values and beliefs with their partners. This doesn't mean having identical views on everything, but rather a fundamental compatibility on issues that matter. Sociologist Dr. Terri Orbuch emphasizes that shared values are a key predictor of relationship longevity. It's about ensuring that both partners are moving in the same direction in life. Respect for differing opinions is crucial, but there must be a shared vision for the future. Whether it's views on family, career ambitions, or social issues, these are the topics young couples discuss early on. This alignment prevents conflicts down the line and ensures that both partners can support each other's life goals. It's a strategic approach to building a relationship that lasts. A growing awareness of mental health has led younger generations to prioritize self-care, both individually and in their relationships. They understand that a healthy mind is the foundation of a healthy relationship. Partners who support each other's mental health journeys and respect self-care routines are highly valued. It's about understanding that mental well-being is an ongoing process, not a one-time fix. Younger couples also emphasize the importance of recognizing and addressing mental health issues early on. They aren't afraid to talk about therapy, medication, or coping strategies. This open dialogue not only normalizes mental health discussions but also strengthens their bond. Supporting each other's mental wellness is seen as an act of love and commitment. Adventure is no longer just for the thrill-seekers; it's a staple of modern relationships. Younger generations place a high value on shared experiences, seeing them as a way to build memories and strengthen bonds. Whether it's traveling to new destinations or trying out a new hobby together, these activities enrich their connection. According to travel expert Dr. Sarah Bennett, couples who explore the world together report higher levels of relationship satisfaction. These shared adventures aren't just about ticking items off a bucket list. They're about discovering new facets of each other and creating a narrative that is uniquely theirs. By stepping out of their comfort zones together, couples develop a deeper understanding and appreciation for one another. It's the excitement of the unknown that keeps the relationship vibrant and engaging. Money matters have long been a source of tension in relationships, but younger generations are tackling it head-on. They prioritize financial transparency and view it as essential to building trust. Open discussions about earnings, spending habits, and financial goals are encouraged. By aligning on financial expectations early, they avoid misunderstandings and stress in the future. This approach extends to financial planning as well. Younger couples are keen on setting joint financial goals and working towards them together. Whether it's saving for a house, planning a vacation, or investing for the future, these decisions are made collaboratively. This financial partnership is seen as a practical step towards a stable and harmonious life together. In a digital age, striking a balance between online and offline connections is crucial. Younger generations are acutely aware of the impact of technology on relationships. They value partners who can put down their devices and be present in the moment. This doesn't mean abandoning digital communication but rather using it to enhance, not replace, real-life interactions. Face-to-face time is cherished as an opportunity to deepen intimacy and understanding. Meanwhile, digital tools are used to maintain a connection when apart. The key is ensuring that technology facilitates rather than detracts from the relationship. This balanced approach allows couples to enjoy the convenience of digital communication while nurturing their bond through shared experiences. Younger generations no longer see career and relationships as mutually exclusive. They prioritize partners who support their professional aspirations and understand the importance of personal growth. This support is not just about encouragement but also involves practical help, like sharing responsibilities to allow each other time to achieve goals. It's a partnership where both individuals can thrive. Career support extends to celebrating achievements and being a cheerleader during setbacks. Younger couples value partners who are genuinely interested in their work and are willing to invest time in understanding it. This mutual support creates a dynamic where both partners feel valued and empowered. It's about growing together while respecting each other's individual paths. A keen sense of social and environmental responsibility is increasingly important in modern relationships. Younger generations are drawn to partners who care about the planet and social justice. They see these values as reflections of character and integrity. Whether it's reducing carbon footprint, supporting sustainable brands, or advocating for social causes, these actions speak volumes. These shared values create a bond that extends beyond the personal realm to a larger global perspective. Young couples are often engaged in activism and philanthropy together, finding common ground in making a difference. This shared commitment to the greater good reinforces their connection and sense of purpose. It's about being partners, not just in life but in creating a better world. Flexibility and adaptability are traits highly prized by younger generations. In a rapidly changing world, they value partners who can roll with the punches and adapt to new circumstances. This resilience is seen as vital for weathering the ups and downs of life together. Rigid and inflexible attitudes are seen as deal-breakers. Adaptability also means being open to change within the relationship itself. Younger couples understand that relationships evolve and require adjustments. They prioritize partners who are willing to grow and change with them. This flexibility ensures that the relationship remains vibrant and responsive to both individual and shared needs. Finally, authenticity has become the gold standard for younger generations in relationships. They prioritize partners who are genuine and true to themselves over those who project an image of perfection. This authenticity fosters deeper, more meaningful connections and reduces the pressure to conform to unrealistic standards. It's about being real and vulnerable, flaws and all. Perfection is not only unattainable but uninteresting. Authentic partners are valued for their honesty and transparency. Younger generations see the beauty in imperfection and celebrate individuality. This approach creates a space where both partners can be their true selves, leading to a more fulfilling and lasting relationship.
