If we understand both the sociology and psychology of ourselves, we can form better relationships. The key to any relationship is openness and communication, especially for couples. It hurts you the most by withholding something from your partner, they need to know, especially about yourself.

Socially, life is the external interaction with people in forming bonds or relationships. People draw on a broad range of life domains to find meaning in life, such as religious beliefs, social relationships, personal achievement, and social contributions.[1] In Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, we strive for self-actualization at the very top of the pyramid. Achieving this state completely without having to go back to our animalistic nature, which is enlightenment or spiritual awakening. Most people self-actualize only briefly but usually go back to this illusion of reality, or what we consider normal.

In my life, external stimuli such as pictures, videos, or control freaks do not affect me, like they did in the past. Reciprocity is the strongest social norm gluing a society together.[2] If you give someone something, you expect at least a little tradeoff. It must not be equal, all the time, unless socially you have an interest in them and do care that much for something in return. Of course, the relationship will not work out if it is a give and take relationship, for couples mostly, but also in business relationships, such as a partnership, as well.

In child development, supporting and helping to form social relationships is necessary. Babies and toddlers show that they recognize familiar peers and, within their physical abilities, engage in social play with individuals.[3] In other words, babies are born to be social, but as they get older social relationships are a little more difficult to navigate, even into their teenage years and early adulthood. As I have recently entered my golden years, external social stimuli are unnecessary. I better understand relationships internally, which means I build new relationships based on their internal or psychological values but with a calming awareness.

Psychological relationships have more depth and meaning than sociological relationships. Though, I know there must be balance between them. As the relationship matures, the partners often become less motivated and less generous than they once were. Understandable disillusionment accumulates, and the time and energy required to fulfill their partner’s needs can become more burdensome.[4] This is true for all couples married or otherwise. All relationships, psychologically, must continually need work. Our mind is often changing and is now vastly different from when you both met, but there are correct ways for healing the relationship, not by just a couple of books about it.

Again, communication is important and openly talk about the problem, even though it is difficult for one of you. Simple, linear regression was conducted to find the impact of adjustment and satisfaction. On psychological well-being among partners were into religious relationship.[5] Therefore, if you and your partner are different religiously, then there are simple ways of adjusting to keep the romance in a relationship strong. There are times when both of you must compromise to get out of any one-sidedness of the relationship.

I found out later in life, I value what is inside myself and the person I am relating to, in forming new relationships. The external marketing and money-making side of relationships is less of a thing for me. Externally, I will continue to socialize with my partner by dating and going out to have fun and enjoy life together in the simple moments.

[1] Zhang, Hong, et al. “Threats to Belongingness and Meaning in Life: A Test of the Compensation among Sources of Meaning.” Motivation and Emotion, vol. 43, no. 2, 2019, pp. 242-254. ProQuest, https://www.proquest.com/scholarly-journals/threats-belongingness-meaning-life-test/docview/2117635938/se-2, doi:https://doi.org/10.1007/s11031-018-9737-8.

[2] Social Dilemmas, Institutions, and the Evolution of Cooperation, edited by Ben Jann, and Wojtek Przepiorka, Walter de Gruyter GmbH, 2017. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/atpa-ebooks/detail.action?docID=5049489.
Created from atpa-ebooks on 2025-02-12 10:07:52.

[3] Social Dilemmas, Institutions, and the Evolution of Cooperation, edited by Ben Jann, and Wojtek Przepiorka, Walter de Gruyter GmbH, 2017. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/atpa-ebooks/detail.action?docID=5049489.
Created from atpa-ebooks on 2025-02-12 10:07:52

[4] Gunther, Randi. When Love Stumbles : How to Rediscover Love, Trust, and Fulfillment in Your Relationship, New Harbinger Publications, 2011. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/atpa-ebooks/detail.action?docID=776171.
Created from atpa-ebooks on 2025-02-12 10:52:56.

[5] Das, Neha, and K. G. V. Bapu. “Psychological Well-being, Relationship Satisfaction and Adjustment among Partners Involved in Inter-Religious Romantic Relationship.” Indian Journal of Health and Wellbeing, vol. 15, no. 1, 2024, pp. 62-68. ProQuest, https://www.proquest.com/scholarly-journals/psychological-well-being-relationship/docview/3041529584/se-2.