Focuses on competitiveness in relationships, which relates to
psychology. Comments from Steven Beach, and his colleagues at the
University of Georgia; Information on persons in dating relationships;
Reaction of persons who date when competing in an important area.
By
Katherine Billie, published on September 01, 1998
If you're trying to figure out whether your relationship is headed
for aserious commitment or a bitter breakup, take a look at how the two
of you react when you become competitors.
Married people tend to take joy in a spouse's achievements and
empathize at losses, according to Steven Beach, Ph.D., and his colleagues
at the University of Georgia. Those in dating relationships, on the other
hand, parse their reactions more distinctly based on whether the
competition is in an area that is personally important.
In arenas that don't matter, daters are full of congratulations at
a parmer's success and sympathetic at a failure. When the competition is
in an area that matters, though, daters are apt to gloat when they
outperform their partner and be envious or resentful when the panner
triumphs instead.
People who are dating are not yet committed to each other, Beach
surmises, and thus, may want to protect and defend the areas in which
they excel. They're better able to empathize when their own needs aren't
in focus. Spouses, however, see themselves as a unit, and are more
willing to bask in reflected glory.
PHOTO (COLOR): A couple rock climbing
Tags:
achievement,
arenas,
competitiveness,
daters,
dating,
dating relationships,
marriage,
photo color,
relationships,
surmises,
triumphs,
university of georgia
