Relationships are the way we interact with other people. They may be romantic, platonic, familial, intimate or sexual and are a cornerstone of our emotional and social well-being. Healthy relationships are respectful, honest and fun. When these relationships are unhealthy, they can drain our energy and diminish our self-esteem.
Relationship researchers and psychologists study how individuals form and maintain relationships. They often use scientific tools like video cameras, heart monitors and behavioral observation to understand what happens during moments of conflict or closeness in a relationship. These studies have led to many theories on what makes relationships healthy and happy, including the theory that our need to connect with others is innate, stemming from early experiences in childhood.
Whether you are in a platonic, romantic, familial or intimate relationship, it’s important to understand the signs of a healthy and unhealthy relationship. If your relationships are unhealthy, you should seek help from a professional to find out how to improve your situation. For example, if you have an abusive relationship, seek help from a domestic violence hotline or counseling agency.
Intimate relationships include those involving a level of emotional or physical closeness, such as kissing, touching, sexual intimacy, or feelings of romance and love. These relationships also typically include mutual dependence. In an unhealthy intimate relationship, one person has too much power or control over the other. For example, they may limit who the other person spends time with or how the other person spends money. They also might be emotionally manipulative, creating feelings of guilt, pity or jealousy to get what they want.
A healthy relationship has boundaries that are respectful of individual needs. This might be as simple as not discussing personal matters in front of coworkers, or it might be as complex as an arrangement where one person takes on more of the financial responsibility for day-to-day expenses. It’s also important to make time for couple activities and hobbies, whether that is a regular movie night or a weekly poker game.
Some research has found that those who have a strong sense of connection to their family, friends and community live longer than those who do not. This is because relationships provide a support network that helps people weather stress and other negative life events.
A successful long-term relationship requires a mixture of commitment and patience. It’s also important to be able to talk through issues that arise, and to be able to resolve conflict without the use of aggression, insult or degradation. In addition, both partners must be able to work on their own interests and have a healthy amount of independence in the relationship. This may be as simple as taking a weekly dance class or joining a book club. You can also try more creative ways to keep your relationship alive, such as a couples culture project or a joint hobby.