All posts tagged: breakup

Never Get Blindsided Again by a Sudden Breakup

Never Get Blindsided Again by a Sudden Breakup

People often enter therapy when their relationship is in crisis. I have worked with many people who came to me because they had been “blindsided” by a partner. They were going along, thinking everything was OK, when their partner up and called it quits. It has become clear to me that there are subtle dynamics and behaviors operating within these couples that, while often overlooked, indicate their relationship is headed for trouble. Sadly, had the partners seen them and been able to address them, their relationship might have stood the chance of having a different outcome. Following are some of those dynamics and suggestions for how to address them. Communication is vital in this endeavor. Create a safe atmosphere where each of you feels free to talk about yourselves and your feelings. Make sure you are in a calm state and can come toward your partner from a friendly place. It’s important to be in touch with your caring and loving feelings toward your partner as you talk and listen to each other. By looking …

45 Breakup Strategies: How Most People End Relationships

45 Breakup Strategies: How Most People End Relationships

New research reveals 45 breakup strategies and ranks the most- and least-preferred ways people end romantic relationships. Here, I explain what they are and why they matter. The paper, authored by Apostolou and Kagialis, was published recently in Personality and Individual Differences. Study Overview Study 1: Identifying Breakup Behaviors Sample: 228 Greek-speaking individuals (122 women), with an average age of 30 for women and 31 for men. Around 55 percent were currently in a romantic relationship. Methods: Participants responded to the prompt: “For various reasons, you are not happy with your romantic relationship. Write down a few actions you would take to end this relationship.” Results: Researchers identified 45 distinct breakup acts. Study 2: Rating the Breakup Acts Sample: 392 Greek-speaking participants (185 women). Women averaged 34 years old; men averaged 38. About 41 percent were single. Methods: Participants evaluated the 45 breakup acts by rating how likely they would be to use each one in an unsatisfactory relationship. Results: Researchers grouped the breakup behaviors into nine core “breakup strategies” (i.e., common ways people break …