Fiction and music manage to capture the feeling of being in love without providing the context of how romantic relationships are formed and developed. Partners usually share the same interests and engage in similar behavioral patterns, which prove that similarity is more essential than initial attraction in the lifecycle of a relationship. John Bowlby developed the attachment theory that is based on the mammalian instincts of humans to grow attached to someone who provides care, protection, and support (Fraley, 2020). Bowlby’s colleagues specified that while “romantic love is a property of the attachment behavioral system,” non-platonic relationships function off a strong emotional bond formed as a result of sexual experiences (Fraley, 2020). Mutual attachment and attraction remain the key factors in defining what a close relationship is.
However, I believe that the development of romantic relationships depends on a variety of ethnic and cultural differences. Poor economic conditions in low-income African American and Latino communities increase the rate of singlehood among these groups (Kail & Cavanaugh, 2012). Religious traditions based on believing in concepts such as fate and soulmates factor in the relationship patterns in Southeast Asia (Kail & Cavanaugh, 2012). According to Kail and Cavanaugh (2012), cohabitation rates also vary by culture, with Norway, Netherlands, and Sweden being at the top of the list for couple cohabitation and marriage legalization after having kids. My partner and I have had numerous discussions about having children since we had concerns related to our financial stability and mental readiness. Making a decision to have kids requires partners to analyze their personal relationship and commitment. They need to make extensive predictions regarding their outlooks on effective/ineffective parenting. Keeping a marriage happy after having children depends on both partners’ willingness to make time for each other and surprise one another with romantic gestures. Weekly dates and monthly getaways can help a married couple with kids to sustain high levels of physical attraction.
References
Fraley, R. C. (2020). Adult attachment theory and research: A brief overview. University of Illinois Department of Psychology. Web.
Kail, R. V., & Cavanaugh C. J. (2012). Human development: A life-span view (6th ed.). Cengage Learning.