Eventually, every couple meets obstacles, no matter how close the partners are. However, all these misunderstandings should not be perceived as insurmountable problems because they help to make a relationship stronger. The thing that makes relationships successful is an ability to discuss these misunderstandings with respect to each other. Both partners should be attentive and ready to sacrifice something they need to achieve a compromise.
There are different classifications of what makes a relationship successful. According to Robert Sternberg, the author of “Triangular Theory of Love,” this component of a relationship is called Intimacy (Sternberg). It supposes that partners can always openly talk to each other, so they would sustain their emotional proximity. The other two components are Passion, which means physical manifestation of love, and Commitment, the pragmatical part of a romance that makes it commonly beneficial. The attainment of these three factors makes a relationship successful, healthy, and strong in every aspect.
The form of love relationships has changed throughout human history. For many ages, people have been married because it was mutually beneficial to both of the families and helped to achieve material gain. As a result, people could not fit each other due to different principles and values, which caused problems to the relationships. In modern times, the situation when people get married due to romantic interest in each other is more prevalent.
However, the fact that people have more opportunities to better know each other before starting a relationship is not a panacea. After some time, couples still face problems, like the inability to find a common language and make decisions together or disrespect of one partner for another. A person may lie and cheat or can be too jealous in a pathological and paranoid form. One of the most spread problems is that sometimes relationships can be violent and abusive. One partner with physical and emotional abuse can suppress another to achieve complete control over the other. This type of situation is extremely unhealthy and harms both of the partners. In order to avoid these problems, abused people should always have an opportunity to contact relatives or a special center for psychological assistance.
Work Cited
Sternberg, Robert J. “Construct Validation of a Triangular Love Scale.” European Journal of Social Psychology, vol. 27, no. 3, 1997, pp. 313–335. Web.