relationship
There are 4 types of couples – and this love combo lasts the longest
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How couples treat one another does not only reveal something about the current status of their relationship. It can also predict how long they will stay together.
Have you ever considered what kind of relationship you have with your partner? Is harmony particularly important to you, or do you not skip an argument? Does passion or friendship rule? What does love mean to you? In short: what makes you tick as a couple?
According to a study, the answers to these questions reveal a lot about your chances of becoming permanently happy with one another. Scientists from the University of Illinois followed around 400 couples in their mid-twenties over a period of nine months. They observed typical differences in handling, according to which they developed the following four categories:
The 4 pair types
1. The near-distance pair
A constant ups and downs of emotions is characteristic of this type of couple. Sometimes the partners feel: they are totally drawn to each other inside, then they need a distance from each other again. “They often make decisions based on negative experiences or assessments of the relationship,” says Brian Ogolsky of the University of Illinois. At the beginning of a new relationship, such couples take great care to spend time apart from each other. “They emphasize their individuality in a way that is rather unusual for people who have just fallen in love.”
2. The love-hate couple
This type of couple is characterized by their passionate feelings, which could also be described as love-hate relationships. You can’t with each other, but neither can you without each other. The tatters often fly here. They like to make up with sex. But the constant arguments have a negative impact on relationship satisfaction, according to the study.
3. The socially involved couple
It is typical of this type of couple that they are very socially involved. The partners share a circle of friends and exchange ideas closely with their friends, including on relationship issues. This is good for happiness in love: “If you have mutual friends, you feel closer and more connected as a couple,” says Brian Ogolsky.
4. The two-person couple
It is characteristic of the two couple that they make decisions in partnership. The partners respect each other and consider what is important to the other. The relationship is the top priority. “These couples care very much about each other, they trust each other and are committed,” said Ogolsky.
Relationships That Advance: Which Couples Have The Best Chances?
Of these four types of couples, the two-person couple (4) have the best chances of lasting love happiness, according to the study. The couples most at risk of separation are those who are linked in love-hate relationships. According to the study, the risk of their love failing is twice as high as that of the other couples. The proximity-distance couples and the socially integrated couples move between these two poles. The latter are often more stable, although couples who often quarrel do not necessarily fall apart.
The study’s makers hope their results can help couples: “The good news is that there are certain types of relationships that make couples grow more than others,” said Brian Ogolsky.