Relationship Essay: Long-Term Relationships

Do Long-Term Relationships Make People Happier?

The foundation for the majority of normal relationships is love. This feeling is one of the most studied in psychology. Still, it is the least understood. The reason behind this is most likely the fact that the studies are carried out maybe not in true to life but in the labs. To claim whether long-term relationships make people happier or not is really a challenging task because of the very essence of happiness it self. This is probably one of the most subtle subjects, the measuring of which imposes difficulties on scientists from the lack of strictly defined criteria. Both long-term and short-term relationships could make people happy. However , they're markedly not the same as each other, which is up to people and their expectations to choose which type of relationship makes them happier at a particular time in their life.

Romance and passion are the inevitable company of relationships. Consequently, relationships aren't a stable substance. They are constantly developing and moving in one stage to some other. In this case, the amount of maturity decides the future of the relationships. If people are with the capacity of developing their relationships wisely and reasonably, they are apt to be more content with the outcome. But this ability requires many efforts, emotional intelligence, experience, and general understanding of the essence of the relationships between genders. In the case of short-term relationships, the couple is either unwilling or not capable of developing their relationship from the point of chemical reactions in the mind and the release of dopamine to something more conscious and mature. It needs good communicative skills and an understanding of oneself, in addition to clearly defined values and principles of every partner. With the conscious desire and effort, couples proceed in the development of their relationships, and consequently reach a certain degree of satisfaction from the reward they receive for their efforts.

With this specific evidence, it's more reasonable to speak about the caliber of the relationship than general happiness. Superficial, short-term relationships don't reach the purpose of quality. They stick to the first amount of romance and passion, which does not make people unhappy but rather distinguishes them from the couples in long-term relationships. Generally speaking, it does not sound right to discuss about it who is happier in which form of relationship. Rather, it is more meaningful to speak about the development of intellect and emotional intelligence, as well as the skills to cooperate effectively with the partner for the mutual satisfaction with the connection of both partners, and therefore, happiness. Some studies declare that couples without children are far more satisfied with their relationship. “For both men and women, people who did not have children ranked the quality of their relationship more highly than those who did” (Bingham, 2014). This evidence might be justified by the fact this sounding couple has much more time for each other, for communication, physical contact, and rest, both together and apart.

To conclude, it makes sense to state that each kind of relationship may bring happiness to individuals considering their expectation from the relationships. Long-term relationships require more effort and cooperation from partners. Consequently, they acquire yet another quality, the one that is different from short-term relationships. If the couple is capable of solving conflicts without resentment, guilt, and other negative emotions that often accompany immature individuals, their relationship becomes more valuable within their mind, and therefore may be the reason behind increased satisfaction with the partnership. In turn, the amount of satisfaction includes a direct link with happiness in relationships.

REFERENCES

Bingham, J. (2014, January 12). Happier relationships for couples without children. Retrieved from https://www.telegraph.co.uk/lifestyle/wellbeing/10567260/Happier-relationships-for-couples-without-children.html
Whitbourne, S. K. (2012). The 12 Ties that Bind Long-Term Relationships. Retrieved from https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/fulfillment-any-age/201206/the-12-ties-bind-long-term-relationships