Let's Talk Relationships (Page 26)

The world is full of naturally shy people. Sometimes it’s our job to cater to their needs and aid them in boosting their confidence, especially if you happen to be dating a shy person. It’s not uncommon for those without confidence to dislike meeting new people, and if these new people happen to be your best buddies who you hang out with all the time, your partner is going to feel even more intimidated. However,...

Rather than an apology, new research says the thing most couples want during an argument is for their partner to relinquish some power. This can include offering a partner more independence, showing more respect or becoming more open to compromise. The findings, which were published in the Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, come as part of duel studies from Baylor University. For the first study, 455...

Perhaps number one on everyone’s list when selecting a mate is finding someone of quality. This is somebody who will treat you well and with respect, balances you on all levels, makes you number one in their life, is compatible both sexually and psychologically and is a soul mate you can communicate with concerning just about anything. Mutual trust and honoring your commitments is essential for success, but trying...

Despite the sunnier attitude, new research finds optimistic people may experience more marital difficulty compared to those with a pessimistic outlook. While the benefit from a positive attitude is typically thought of as therapeutic, a study published in the July issue of the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology warns overly-optimistic expectations can lead to heavy disappointment later on. Researchers say...

Recently I’ve been reading a ton about a really worrying trend: breaking up via text message. We’re not talking about relationships that are only a month old either. We’re talking about people who have been together six months, a year or even two years! It's unbelievable. All of a sudden you go from, "I love you.....smiley face” to “We're done. I'm done. I can't do this anymore,” all in the span of a few days. I...

The type of arguments couples experience may be a reliable predicator for the risk of divorce, according to new research. Lead researcher Sonya Britt, an assistant professor of family studies and human services at Kansas State University, found conflict or disagreements over money were found to be the clearest sign of potential trouble ahead. As part of the study, data involving 4,500 couples was analyzed from the...

The type of family which raises a child does not predict their psychological adjustment later in life, according to a new study conducted among both heterosexual and gay adoptive parents. Published in the Journal of Family Psychology, the study examined 120 two-parent families that had each adopted a single child. The participating parents were nearly evenly split between heterosexuals, gay and lesbian...

There is no question that you expect a lot from your partner in a relationship nowadays. You want your girlfriend to be attractive, fit, active, fun, a good communicator, alcohol free or a regular drinker, a traveler or couch potato, younger or older and so many other things! You want her to love your dogs, cats, fish, horses, birds, snakes and other odd living things you’ve collected. She has to understand your...

Do you live with your partner, or are you planning on moving in together soon? You may want to take a new study into account first. Research conducted by the Rand Corporation suggests couples who move in together may have less long-term confidence in their relationship and their overall commitment to it. Typically, cohabitating has been seen as that next step, the natural progression of a healthy bond between two...

How couples argue as they grow older together is at the heart of a new study in the Journal of Marriage and Family this month. The 13-year research explored communication methods in middle-aged and older married partners. The results show over time couples "increase their tendency to demonstrate avoidance during conflict" often by changing the subject. Surveying 127 heterosexual couples beginning in 1999,...

From Leonardo DiCaprio to Dane Cook, it seems like you see a lot of older men in Hollywood dating younger women. But not marrying them. People like to say it's the "older man, younger woman" syndrome. The younger woman gets sick of the older man and ends the relationship. The older man realizes the younger woman is approaching her 30th birthday and bounces. Really? Do you have anything else better to report about?...

What do you do when all that’s on your mind is getting back together with your ex-boyfriend? Perhaps you made a premature judgment and terminated the relationship before you allowed it to mature. Or maybe you made a mistake and had an indiscretion that resulted in his leaving you. Whatever the scenario, fantasies about a reconciliation can drive you crazy without a game plan. What follows are some insights and...

Many men in their 50s, 60s, and older were raised to be old-school gentlemen. They were taught that once you are partnering up romantically with a lady, you ought to ask her to marry you. You might cohabit for a while together first, but getting married is in your sights. Some might feel this is a bit old-fashioned in this day and age, that marriage is only if you are planning to have children together, so what’s...

This is an exclusive study conducted by DatingAdvice.com, which surveyed respondents over the course of three weeks to reflect an accurate representation of the U.S. population. Blind dates are often thought of as awkward endeavors, yet research finds about four in 10 Americans have been on one. In an exclusive study conducted by DatingAdvice.com, 43% of Americans said they’ve gone on a blind date. Gay...

In every relationship, no matter how many times you say, “I love you,” how often the chemistry ignites while on the dance floor or in the bedroom or how much you desire continuing into eternal bliss, one person always feels stronger for the other. Sometimes when a breakup is imminent, the balance of affection is so heavily tipped in the other person’s corner that you feel hesitant to let them go because of an...

There was a man who wrote something startling on my Facebook page. It was a comment in response to a blog about anger and domestic violence, I think. He seemed to imply male anger was often women’s fault. That his girlfriends had “made him mad.” After an unfair comment stream attack by some of my other zero-tolerance followers, I thought more about this man’s statement. Sometimes it does feel like an intimate...

Is it automatically the end of your relationship when your partner won’t make a commitment? This nagging question fills your mind if you’re with a guy who doesn’t seem as serious about your relationship as you are. The tricky thing about commitment is it varies depending on how long you've been together, and it means different things to different people. This can cause a lot of confusion and tension. You don’t...

Reader Question: One of my friends moved to Hungary about nine months ago. We started talking a lot and accidentally moved past the friend zone. We both apparently had crushes on each other and didn't know it. He just moved back to the country and spent his first two days he was free with me and even spent the night. I've been really anxious and self-conscious since then. I understand he's busy, but I almost...

Reader Question: I’m a 17-year-old on summer break. My mother turned off my cellphone, so I wasn't able to contact my girlfriend. We have been dating for two months. Things just feel different after not talking to her for a week on a regular basis. I worry I may be exhibiting some paranoid or jealous traits. I started the summer with a lot of plans, but I receded back into my depressive, anxiety head. She is...

How you keep your bedroom can reveal what kind of relationship you have, according to research by the University of Texas. Led by researcher Lindsey Graham, the study shows the surroundings we choose affects us on a practical and psychological level. Working with UT psychology professor Sam Gosling, Graham set out to explore what our choices might mean and how they reflect the quality of our relationships. For the...

After months or years of dating, it's the best feeling in the world when you finally meet a new person you can have a relationship with. Our 10 Best Relationship Blogs are riding that high with you by sharing their stories of triumph, true love and more! Science of Relationships BEST OF Bragging...

Is timing everything when it comes to sex? Dr. Wendy Walsh gives her take on this common dating question. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RdLtWQspLzw

This is an exclusive study conducted by DatingAdvice.com, which surveyed respondents over the course of three weeks to reflect an accurate representation of the U.S. population. The lure of the familiar can be a powerful thing, as demonstrated by new research that shows just how many Americans have slept with an ex-lover. In a sweeping study conducted by DatingAdvice.com, 39% of men and 30% of women said they've...

Academic research shows children's interactions with Mom and Dad can be a strong predictor of how successful they'll be in terms of their romantic relationships. Titled "The Long Reach of Childhood," the study interpreted data from 3,980 participants, comparing how they responded to a personal history survey involving both their parents and their partners. Authors Eva-Maria Merz and Suzanne Jak wanted to explore a...

Why are men so shy about relationships? This is a question many women have asked themselves many times in their lives. Still, shaking your fists at the heavens and asking why isn’t going to get you any kind of an answer. Here are a few reasons why men have commitment phobia. 1. Girlfriends can be clingy. Many men love being independent. We like having someone to come home to, but we don’t like to feel like we owe...

We’ve all heard the jokes from new parents about how their sex lives have faded fast since the arrival of their little one. But new research by British relationship charity OnePlusOne has found there is some truth in this jest. According to the charity’s latest Sleep, Sex and Sacrifice report, 40 percent of new moms and 11 percent of dads feel they are no longer sexually attractive to their partner. More...

Reader Question: I've been dating this girl for two months and everything was going great until this weekend. I got way too drunk and started acting over dramatic. I told her she should start paying for things once in a while. I told her maybe we should go our separate ways so no one gets hurt. I called her that night and apologized and she forgave me. It's been a few days now and I haven't heard from her. I...

Reader Question: This guy and I have been dating for almost a year. We have patches of really good times and times where we constantly fight. He makes me feel very low about myself and I’m weary if I can trust him. We have been on a break for about two weeks now and he says he has changed. I have met this new guy and he's really nice and sweet. He knows about my situation and is sticking around, but I don't...

Reader Question: I met this guy at the laundry mat. We texted every day for a month. We met up a couple times within that month. Yes, we did have sex. Then the texting became less and less. What he has told me was he’s been really busy and kind of down. We both agreed to have a "friends with benefits" thing, but I’m not sure how you go from communicating every day to nonexistent. I like him and would like...

While social media has opened up a broad new spectrum of communication possibilities, research finds excessive use of Facebook can prove harmful to a relationship down the line. For the study, Russell Clayton, of the University of Missouri, Alexander Nagurney, an instructor at the University of Hawaii at Hilo and Jessica R. Smith, a doctoral student at St. Mary's University in San Antonio, surveyed Facebook users...