Sunday, February 20, 2022

What is Love? And How Might a Better Understanding of Love Help Us Avoid or Even Prevent Domestic Violence?

  I think we can all agree that romantic relationships, marriages, romantic partnerships are largely about finding love and perhaps, hopefully even keeping love -- for the duration...  But it seems we rarely ever really stop to think about what Love really is.
  It's to say that we all want LOVE.. and why is that???  Possibly if we are loved, then we belong... right?  And humans really do tend to want to belong to someone else; and / or something else like a group, a family, a club or a religion or whatever.... its usually good to belong......

So What Is Love?

  Think about it: What is love?  When I say "I love you" to my partner"; what do I really mean?  If I say that; what am I really trying to say?  And what does Love look like across different circumstances -- like how does a parent love a child versus how a boy loves a girl; much less how a girl loves a boy?  Today, we are going to explore this together.

  Some people believe that Men and Women tend to love each other differently,  One “Study author Elizabeth Schoenfeld, a researcher at the University of Texas in Austin, found that while men show love by initiating sex or sharing activities together, wives express love by being less assertive and more accommodating.”  On the other hand, "There aren't too many real gender and sex differences between men and women on the whole," said Stevie Yap, a researcher in the department of psychology at Michigan State University in East Lansing, according to HealthDay.  "If you look at the overall research, gender differences don't usually hold up." (Source).

  Whether it is for Men or Women; it seems that many (if not most) Humans have a strong desire to somehow find and experience love in their lifetimes.


How does Love Change as We Mature?

  “Our love moves from the higher arousal emotions of interest, amusement, and joy into the calmer positive emotions of serenity, gratitude, inspiration, and awe.”

  As we move from passionate to companionate love, “our levels of adrenaline, dopamine, and serotonin get back to their normal state,” Rowbotham says.

  “They’re replaced by oxytocin, a hormone that’s released as a result of the physical closeness we experience with our partners.”

  Oxytocin, the “hug hormone”, calms you down and makes you feel more connected to your partner.

  According to one study, oxytocin can also make a person consider their relationship in a more positive light.”  (Source).  

  
But what is Love?  Let's look at some different ideas about love and definitions related to Love.

Quotes about Love found in the Holy Bible:

   “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”   (1 Corinthians 13:4). 

          “Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man." (Proverbs 3:3-4).

     “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love." (Ephesians 4:2).

     “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins." (1 Peter 4:8).

     “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you." (John 15:12).

     “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." (Corinthians 13:13).
   

     According to the Teachings of The Buddha: 
    
“Teach this triple truth to all: A generous heart, kind speech, and a life of service and compassion are the things which renew humanity.” 

 “You can search throughout the entire universe for someone who is more deserving of your love and affection than you are yourself, and that person is not to be found anywhere. You, yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.” 

      “Those who are free of resentful thoughts surely find peace.” – Buddha


     And 
According to Islam:

    "The laughter of our spouse is one of the best sounds in life. Always try to make them smile and keep them happy In ’Sha’Allah"

     "Love is shown in your deeds not in your words"

     "A perfect marriage is just two imperfect people who refuse to give up on each other."

 
     Per Hinduism:

       In Hinduism, kāma is pleasurable, personified by the god Kama. For many Hindus schools it is the third end in life.

       In contrast to kāma, prema or prem refers to elevated love. Love in Hinduism is sacrament. It preaches that one gives up selfishness in love, not expecting anything in return.

  It also believes "God is love". A sacred text named Kanda Guru Kavasa quotes, " Oh holy Great flame, Grant me with love.. You said the spreading love is Para Brahma, For the thing which is everywhere is only Love, And Love is the only thing which is like a soul within us, Love is Kumara, Love is Kanda" This simply means Love is God.

  The love of the Hindu deity Krishna with Radha and many other gopis (milkmaids) of Vrindavana is highly revered. His amorous dance with the gopis became known as the Rasa lila[50] and were romanticised in the poetry of Jayadeva, the author of Gita Govinda. These became important as part of the development of the Krishna bhakti traditions worshiping Radha Krishna.[51]  (Source).

 

      For the Sikhs:

        In Sikhism, love means love for the Lord and His creation. This is one of five virtues vigorously promoted by the Sikh Gurus. The other four qualities in the arsenal are truth (sat), contentment (santokh), compassion (daya), and humility (nimrata). These five qualities are essential for a Sikh and it is their duty to meditate on and recite the Gurbani so that these virtues become a part of their mindset.

  Love is a positive and powerful tool in the Sikh's arsenal of virtues. When one's mind is full of love, one will overlook deficiencies in others and accept them wholeheartedly as a product of God. Sikhism asks all believers to take on godlike virtues, and this perhaps is the most godlike characteristic of all. Gurbani teaches that Waheguru is a "loving God" full of compassion and kindness. It is the duty of the Sikh to take on qualities of this nature and to easily forgive, never hate anyone, and live in Waheguru's Hukam and practise compassion and humility.”  (Source).


“Eight Different Types of Love (According to the Ancient Greeks):

       “Eros” or Erotic Love.  The first kind of love is Eros, which is named after the Greek god of love and fertility.  Eros represents the idea of sexual passion and desire.”

       “Philia” or Affectionate Love. The second type of love is philia, or friendship. The ancient Greeks valued philia far above Eros because it was considered a love between equals.”

       “Storge” or Familiar Love.  Although storge closely resembles philia in that it is a love without physical attraction, storge is primarily to do with kinship and familiarity. Storge is a natural form of affection that often flows between parents and their children, and children for their parents.”

       “Ludus” or Playful Love.  Although ludus has a bit of the erotic Eros in it, it is much more than that. The Greeks thought of ludus as a playful form of love, for example, the affection between young lovers.”

       “Mania” or Obsessive Love.  Mania love is a type of love that leads a partner into a type of madness and obsessiveness. It occurs when there is an imbalance between Eros and ludus.”

       “Pragma” or Enduring Love.  Pragma is a love that has aged, matured and developed over time. It is beyond the physical, it has transcended the casual, and it is a unique harmony that has formed over time.”

        “Philautia” or Self Love.  The Greeks understood that in order to care for others, we must first learn to care for ourselves. This form of self-love is not the unhealthy vanity and self-obsession that is focused on personal fame, gain and fortune as is the case with Narcissism.”

        “Agape” or Selfless Love.  The highest and most radical type of love according to the Greeks is agape, or selfless unconditional love.”


Per Dr. Beverly: 

  “Love is the willingness & the ability to accept, admire, respect & possibly even cherish someone for the way they are right now, & right now, & now, & right now, & now…and as you both move into the future....”


What about Love Across Cultures?

“Given love is a divine thing, let us try to know how people in different cultures express their love to their dear and near ones :

France: According to experts, the dating landscape in France is quite different than the rest of the world. The French usually say ‘I Love You’ to their partner within two months of dating or relationship. Not only that, people introduce their lover to friends after a few dates and parents in between one to three months.

Japan: Surprisingly, Japanese language does not have any exact phrase that can be equal to ‘I Love U’. The closest phrase to ‘I Love You’ is “ai shiteiru“. Still this phrase is not necessarily voiced in a serious relationship. Therefore Japanese people uses other expressions to show their feelings or affection for their love.

Iraq: In Arabic, the word ‘ahibbik’ represents both love and like. Iraqi men in general pronounce this word to their love on their first meeting.

South Korea: Koreans do not say ‘I Love You’ much to their partners. They usually avoid expressing feeling verbally. As per experts, when anyone feels that he or she are in love, they get aware of it. That’s ok for them. But this tendency is increasingly changing thanks to the exposure to western cultures and movies.

Iran: In 20th century, a man saying ‘I Love You’ meant proposing a woman for marriage and is followed by his family meeting the woman’s parents to talk about their wedding. However, things took an ugly turn around 1979 when Islamic revolution brought in new social rules and started punishing couples who were not related to one another.

Nowadays when a man says ‘I love you’ can mean he is ready to take their relationship forward. Both Iranian men and women in general use this words to show their feelings to each other.

China: In the country, men in the age group of 20-35 usually say ‘wo ai ni’ to women as a sign of showing love or affection. Before saying the phrase, the couple can hold hands and hang out together but perhaps refrain from having intimate acts or publicly accepting each other as boyfriend and girlfriend.

Expression of one’s fondness or likings to others may surely be different from culture to culture. But the taste or eternal meanings of love is quite the same regardless of every single person.“ (Source).


Love and Domestic Violence: 

  Surely Love and DV are definitely NOT complimentary actions.  But yet, they sometimes seem to happen in the same relationships.  How does this happen?  Is it possible to have DV with someone that one loves?  Or, is it practical to believe that when there is Love, there is never Domestic Violence? 

  And if you now feel more confused about what Love is than when you started this little study here, then it appears that you got the message.

              YOUR "TYPE OF LOVE"  WORKSHEET *** 


(Quotes about Love in the Bible.  Retrieved 12/30/2017 from: https://www.theknot.com/content/bible-verses-about-marriage.).  (Types of Love According to the Ancient Greeks.  Retrieved 12/30/2017 from: https://lonerwolf.com/ different-types-of-love/).

(Quotes Compiled by Dr. Beverly, June 2018 and February 2022)
 (c. 2020, William T. Beverly, Ph.D., LCSW, All information on the Blog (Except where otherwise noted); are the intellectual and/or photographic and/or digital property of Dr. William T. Beverly, L.C.S.W., DVOMB Approved Offender Treatment Provider.).

Monday, January 31, 2022

Monday, January 10, 2022

Paying for DV Sessions

  PLEASE ALWAYS Make your PayPal Payments BEFORE your DV Session.  

VERY SHORTLY, we will be returning to conducting our Sessions the same way that we used to.  And people who have not paid first will not be allowed to attend the session.  Please read below and click on the appropriate links for more information.


Or You Can Make a Payment via PayPal Right Here & Right Now!
  
Please Click RIGHT HERE.  Or go the PayPal Buttons on the top and bottom of the Right Side of the Page.

  Please remember: If you attend a Session today, you should pay for this session today.  If you have a voucher for today, then that voucher can pay for this session.  However, a voucher can never be used for a session that occurred before the Voucher date.  Also, Vouchers must be used before their Expiration date.  

  If you have any Balance at all; you should be making weekly payments -- EVERY Week.  If you have ever attended a Session that was not covered by a Voucher, and that you did not already pay for, you should start paying for that session (or those sessions) today as well.

 Please keep track of when you have vouchers, when you pay for a session, and the sessions that you owe for.  If you are inaccurate in your tally, Dr. B will correct the inaccuracy.

  It truly is a pleasure to provide this Service to you and for this Community.  However, in order to survive, this Service depends on you paying for your Sessions as soon as possible.  Furthermore, paying for Sessions is a required part of DV Offender Treatment, as per the Colorado Domestic Violence Offender Management Board. 

  There are numerous ways to pay for your Services on this Blog.  Please either look to the Right-hand column if you are using a PC or a Tablet.  Or, if you are using a cell phone, please scroll all the way down to the bottom of your screen and you will see a link that says, "View in Web Browser" or "View Web Version".  Hit that link and when that screen shows up, you will see PayPal buttons at the bottom right side of the page, as well as a PayPal Link at the top of the Page.

  If you have any questions, please either email or text Dr. Beverly.

  Thank you.

Monday, January 3, 2022

Intimacy, Healthy Relationships and Prevention of Domestic Violence

  Picture a bridge between two people....  a conduit over which or through which all of the goodness of the Relationship and intensity flows... And it always takes two (or more) to maintain that bridge...  This bridge cannot stand up there without being held on both ends...  --- All the time.  Then the question becomes: In a close, secure, and wonderful relationship; what would that bridge be made of?   Intimacy.

  According to the Dictionary, the word, Intimacy, can be defined as:  “A close, familiar, and usually affectionate or loving personal relationship with another person or group.  A close association with or detailed knowledge or deep understanding of a place, subject, period of history, etc.  For example: “Intimate knowledge”.

Another author wrote: 

  “Intimacy means creating an authentic connection.

  What is the meaning of intimacy?  What intimacy means varies from relationship to relationship, and within a given relationship.  From context to context, the definition of intimacy changes and the meaning varies.

  Intimacy has more to do with shared moments than sexual interactions. Intimate feelings may be connected or confused with sexual arousal.   Intimacy is linked with feelings of closeness, safety, trust and transparency among partners in a collaborative relationship.

  For intimacy to be sustainable and nourishing it also requires trust, transparency and rituals of connection. It is possible to compete over intimacy but that is likely to be self-defeating.” (Source).

Types of Intimacy: 

  Surely, there are different types of intimacy depending on the persons involved as well as on the situation.  Different types of Intimacy could include: Sexual, Emotional, Professional, and numerous others:

  The Naya Clinics, writes: "Intimacy is defined as a close familiarity or friendship; closeness. While it may seem this applies to romantic relationships, intimacy is important in non-romantic relationships as well. It is essential to forming connections with others that are deep, lasting, and healthy."; reports that the different types of Intimacy include: Physical, Emotional, Intellectual, Creative, Experiential and Spiritual (Source.)

  Whereas Author Rhett Smith states that there are 12 types of Intimacy shared between partners, including: 

"Sexual Intimacy: Sharing passion and physical pleasuring

Emotional Intimacy: Being tuned to each other’s wavelength

Intellectual Intimacy: Closeness in the world of ideas

Aesthetic Intimacy: Sharing experience of beauty

Creative Intimacy: Sharing in acts of creating together

Recreational Intimacy: Relating in experiences of fun and play

Work Intimacy: Closeness of sharing common tasks

Crisis Intimacy: Closeness in coping with problems and pain

Conflict Intimacy: Facing and struggling with differences

Commitment Intimacy: Mutually derived from common self-interest

Spiritual Intimacy: Unity shared in religious expression

Communication Intimacy: Mutual understanding and affirmation" (Source.)


Look at it this way for a moment:

For many of us, Relationships are largely about Sex.  And due to Societal messages, many people confuse Sex with Intimacy or Intimacy with Sex.  

I propose that: Sexual Relationships Without Intimacy Probably Put Us More At Risk Of DV.  -- Unless of course, we are simply intimate and one of the core pillars of our relationship is that our Sex is simply casual -- and NOT meaningful.

I was talking to a policeman once.. and I asked him what exactly constitutes Intimacy in terms of a DV Offense -- requiring that two people have or have had an Intimate Relationship?  His response was that Intimacy was "Sex".

  Think about this proposition:  Sex Without Intimacy Probably Puts Us More At Risk Of DV

Sex Without Intimacy is probably NOT a partnership, not love, It might not even be liking, and it is quite possibly not as safe as Sex with Intimacy

Sex Without Intimacy is probably more dangerous for BOTH partners.

More Intimacy helps decrease Animosity.... helps increase more understanding and more acceptance and possibly even a deeper love.


What makes up intimacy?  (If you wish to have an intimate relationship, you probably need to do most or all of the following).  An intimate relationship might contain -- like a Bridge between two intimate people -- it is made up of parts -- some of which are listed below:

Honesty: “Honesty is when you speak the truth and act truthfully.  What is honesty?  Many children understand a definition of honesty to be "don't lie". But a complete definition of honesty also means that an honest person doesn't do things that are morally wrong. If something you do is breaking the law or you have to hide it because you'll get in trouble, you are probably not being honest.  What is honesty? – Honesty is speaking the truth.  Honesty is being accountable.  Lying is not honest (also called dishonest) because you are saying something that isn't true.”

Trust: “Assured reliance on the character, ability, strength, or truth of someone or something.”

Respect: “It means valuing each other’s points of view. It means being open to being wrong. It means accepting people as they are. It means not dumping on someone because you're having a bad day. It means being polite and kind always, because being kind to people is not negotiable. It means not dissing people because they're different from you. It means not gossiping about people or spreading lies.”

A mutual sense of Equality: “The quality or state of being equal: the quality or state of having the same rights, social status, etc.”  When each has an equal right to determine whether she/he is being (or going to be) happy or sad.  (Equal in spirit rather than in substance).

Humility: “The quality or state of being humble.”  Can I apologize with sincerity when I mess up?

Forgiveness: “Allowing room for error or weakness.”

Liking and - or Attraction --  or Feeling Wanted (Not necessarily Sexual Attraction) to: “Feeling as if one wants to be around someone due to the way it makes her/him feel when they are together (i.e., happy, energetic, sexy, lovely, good about self).”

Spontaneity / Compromise: “Taking a risk, living life to the fullest, no plans, "don't think just do". To be spontaneous is to be the most relaxed go with the flow and have fun person, you would never get mad if plans changed you would get excited because then it would become spontaneous.”  Or just being able to spontaneously have fun together.

Faith: “Complete trust or confidence in someone or something.”  (There may also be a Spiritual component here as well).  A lot of successful couple share Faith; or they each have tremendous respect (if not admiration) for the faith that is held by the other partner.

Self-Awareness: “Is having a clear perception of your personality, including strengths, weaknesses, thoughts, beliefs, motivations, and emotions. Self-Awareness allows you to understand other people, how they perceive you, your attitude, and your responses to them in the moment.”

Vulnerability: “Susceptibleness to physical or emotional attack or harm.”  If you are with someone with whom you cannot feel vulnerable; you might be lacking intimacy.

Accountability: “The fact or condition of being accountable; responsibility.”  Being willing to think critically about self, actions, thoughts and feelings – taking the good with the bad.

Patience: “The capacity to accept or tolerate delay, trouble, or suffering without getting angry or upset.”  Listening to someone (long enough -- and without distraction) and sincerely trying to understand what they mean.  Taking your time.

Other qualities of Intimate Relationships could include: Hope, Unconditional Acceptance, Confidence, Interest, Affection, Affinity, and Altruism.  Intimacy is often about being willing to work on it.  Intimacy is not about being “perfect.”  But it's about being sincere.  Intimacy may even feel like “symbiosis.”

Thus, it was said earlier that Intimacy is a Voluntary Condition.  Intimacy is like a bridge.  It is held up (actively or passively) between two or more people.  Intimacy is something that both people hold up and maintain.  It takes two (or more) to do intimacy, and it often takes effort.  It rarely happens without work.

Commitment and Integrity. Finally, Intimacy quite possibly requires a mutual sense of clarity about the integrity of the Relationship.  In other words, if one person is in love; but the other is not; it may not be Intimacy.


Why is Intimacy So Important to Learn About in Domestic Violence Treatment?

  For one, simply answer this question: How can Domestic Violence Effect (and/or be effected by) Intimacy?  Or how could Intimacy be impacted by Domestic Violence?

  1. Did you and/or your partner have moments of dishonesty in relation to your DV event(s)?
  2. Did you and/or your partner find that the trust between you was challenged or destroyed in relation to your DV event(s)?
  3. If your partner or someone else called the police on you, could it be that this was an attempt to equalize the immediate situation between you and your partner?
  4. Did you and/or your partner ever find the other to be impatient with the other person or with yourself?
  5. When your DV event happened, were you 100% self-aware – aware of your partner?
  6. Have you totally owned up to (become accountable for) your part of what happened that got you into DV-related trouble?  How did this measure up to the intimacy you shared?
  7. Finally Intimacy probably leads to a Kinship of sorts.  A psychological kinship (Bailey).

NOTE: True Intimacy is not included in relationships that are about Power and Control!!!  Intimacy is more likely to be found in relationships that are about Equality. 

In other words, Intimacy and Domestic Violence cannot happen at the same time -- even in cases where there was a false accusation of Domestic Violence.


  With the one possible exception: During the honeymoon phase -- of a conflict... just after the explosion..... both are trying harder and you might catch a (mistaken) glimmer of intimacy there...  Like Intimacy is not even really there in such situations.  However, many of us tend to see it during those times...  Or Perhaps it is just wishful thinking.  And maybe we just see the Intimacy in such situations because we are so hurt after fighting that we see want to see through our tears and our fears.


So Try to Guess for Yourself -- If two people are truly sharing Intimacy with each other; which of each of these dichotomous interactions will they be likely to share?

Violence and Disrespect vs. Respect and Non-Violence

Confrontation vs. Argument

Competition vs. Collaboration

Denial vs. Acknowledgement

Avoidance vs. Resolution

Blame vs. Accountability

Studying vs. Assuming

Curiosity vs. Prejudice

Rushing vs. Patience

Aggressive vs. Assertive

Jealous vs. Trusting 

Unconditional Giving vs. Keeping Score

Letting her or him win at Chess vs. Checkmating her or him as fast as possible

Non-Disclosive / Appropriate (sometimes possibly even including TMI) 


Discussion Question: 

How was your experience of intimacy impacted by the DV that you took part in?  

 

*** Please CLICK HERE to Complete your 

Intimacy and Prevention of Domestic Violence Worksheet! ***  


Some Definitions are From: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ and http://www.urbandictionary.com/ and http://www.pathwaytohappiness.com/ and http://oxforddictionaries.com/us/definition/american_english/.  Parts of the above were Compiled By Dr. Beverly, March. 2014

Sunday, December 26, 2021

Dr. B's Holiday Hours

 The Holidays are coming!!!  The Holidays are coming!!! 

  There will be some temporary schedule changes due to the Holidays.  And there are many other available Groups for Men and for Women over the next 2 weeks; hence there is no excuse for missing DV Groups over the next 2 weeks.  
  Please note that throughout the next two weeks, all DV Groups will go on as regularly scheduled unless they are listed as having temporary changes below.

  

Please See Schedules Below: 

   FRIDAY, December 24th (Christmas Eve):  

                  There will be a Men's DV Group at 9 a.m. 

                  There will be a Women's DV Group at 11 a.m. that morning.  

                There will be no other DV Groups on Friday the 24th due to it being Christmas Eve.   No Sessions will happen on Friday, December 24th AFTER 12-noon because it is Christmas eve.  All other DV Groups on all other days and evenings will go on as always.  Please click here to view the regular schedule.

 

   SATURDAY, December 25th (Christmas Day):

                  There will be a Men's DV Group at 11 a.m. 


   FRIDAY, December 31st (New Years Eve):  All Groups will go on as regularly scheduled:

There will be a Women's Virtual Friday Morning DV Group (Conference Call only).  [Fridays from 11 to 12:30 p.m.]

There will be a Men's Trinidad Friday Evening DV Group (Conference Call only).  [Fridays from 4 to 5:30 p.m.]

There will be a Men's Trinidad Friday Evening DV Group {Level A & Diversion Only} (In-Person Clients only). [Fridays from 6 to 7:30 p.m.]


   SATURDAY, January 1st, 2022 (New Years Day 2022):  

                  There will be a Men's DV Group at 11 a.m. 


*** Please go to this LINK in order to view the Schedule to see other available Groups that one might attend.

Click Here for the DV Group Session SCHEDULE, for ABSENCE ATTESTATIONS, for TREATMENT PLANNING INFO, and for SESSION FEEDBACK FORMS

*** IMPORTANT *** Please NOTE: In order to be on track toward Successfully Completing DV Treatment, one must complete certain Worksheets and Forms on a Weekly Basis.

  Schedule of Virtual DV Sessions: If you are a DV Client and you do not have INDIVIDUAL pre-Scheduled weekly Session with Dr. B. or with Lucy, you should attend one of these sessions EVERY WEEK.  For a Schedule of Dr. B's DV Sessions 

*** CLICK HERE! for Dr. B's NEW Schedule of Group Sessions! ***

***QXR & CONSENT FORM for Attending In-Person DV Sessions.  CLICK HERE NOW!!!***

  Absence Attestations: If you have recently not had a session for a given week, you will need to complete an Absence Attestation.  In order to Complete your Absence Attestation, please CLICK HERE! 

  Treatment Planning: If you have not completed a Treatment Plan or a Treatment Planning Review over the last 10 weeks, you should do so as soon as possible.  CLICK HERE to complete a New or Revised Treatment Plan.

  Session Feedback Forms: If you have had any session of any kind (Group or Individual) with Dr. B. or with Lucy, you should complete one of these Feedback Forms for EVERY WEEK you have attended.  Ideally, you should do these each week -- right after you complete the Topic Worksheet for that Session.  CLICK HERE to complete your Session Feedback Form(s).

(c. 2020, All information on the Blog (Except where otherwise noted); are the intellectual and/or photographic                                                                                        and/or digital property of Dr. William T. Beverly, L.C.S.W., DVOMB Approved Offender Treatment Provider.)

Sunday, November 21, 2021

Personality Traits and Prevention of DV

How do Personality or Personality Traits Impact Our Relationships?

  Please consider that some study results "demonstrate(d) that personality traits shape the overall quality of one's relationship, which in turn influences the likelihood of relationship dissolution" (Source).   In other words, a Personality can make-or-break a relationship.

  And dissolution could also perhaps increase the possibility of Domestic Violence.  Because some of the most possibly violent times in a relationship are the months just before and the months just after a relationship Breaks-Up.  Then of course, perhaps our Personality Traits could influence DV-type Thinking, DV-Type Feeling and DV-Type Behaviors.

  Also, according to NIH, "Among the Big Five personality traits, emotional stability is often associated with positive relationship expectations. Whereas, low levels of emotional stability (a.k.a. high neuroticism) increases relationship instability and the likelihood of breakups (Roberts et al., 2007; Solomon and Jackson, 2014).Sep 29, 2017). 

Personality Traits might include the following: agreeableness, conscientiousness, openness, and emotional stability, flexibility, optimism, positivity, negativity, and pessimism,  sense of humor, empathy, assertiveness, curiosity, confidence, open-mindedness, self-awareness, and others.

Close Relationships and Personality Traits:

  “Understanding personality effects and their role in influencing relationship quality, varied according to gender and relationship duration, could help us better understand close relationships. Participants were Chinese dating dyads (couples) and were asked to complete both the Big Five Inventory and Perceived Relationship Quality Component scales. Males and those who had a long-term relationship perceived better relationship quality; individuals who scored higher on agreeableness, conscientiousness, openness, and emotional stability enjoyed better relationship quality; gender and/or relationship duration moderated the actor effect of extraversion and the partner effects of conscientiousness, emotional stability, and openness on relationship quality. Regarding the profile similarity, those couples who were more dissimilar in their profile personality had better relationship quality, especially when they were in a relatively long-term relationship. Meanwhile, with an increase in profile similarity, the males' perceived relationship quality decreased.”

  People are born into a complex network of social relations, of which the intimate relationship is one of the most important. In this kind of relationship, individuals interact with each other directly and deeply to pursue and construct a happy life.  A good long-term romantic relationship, in turn, can make an individual happier and lead to longer life expectancy (Claxton et al., 2012).

  In explorations of the factors affecting romantic relationship quality at the individual level, the role of personality has been widely confirmed.  Personality is a stable and fundamental psychological construct (Donnellan et al., 2005).  It (personality) better predicts the degree of relationship quality compared to other factors related to romantic relationships—such as attitudes, values, and beliefs (Luo and Klohnen, 2005). Therefore, understanding how personality influences the relationship quality can help scholars better understand the mechanisms of romantic relationship variation.” (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5626872/).

 Dr. B. Says, It's not always about our Personalities not Matching, or about our Values, or our Beliefs.  It's probably more about how our Personality allows us to convey our values and beliefs through our own Personality features.  And it's also about how our personality impacts the way we perceive the Values and Beliefs of others.

Personality Traits that may be helpful for Healthy Relationships include -- 

Which ones..... I gotta know!?!?!?

"There really is no one way to be or act in a relationship. We're all so different, and we all bring unique aspects of ourselves to the table, so if you're asking yourself how to be in a relationship, know that it's truly tough to pinpoint any specific personality traits all people who have success in love have in common.

 In reality, anyone, if they want it, can have a successful relationship. But there are a few traits that can make sharing your life with someone a helluva lot easier. "Successful relationships don't just happen by chance," Chicago-area couples therapist Theresa Herring, LMFT tells Bustle. "They require people to be intentional and do things that fill the relationship's emotional bank account rather than deplete it." That's why traits like flexibility, optimism, and positivity can go a long way when it comes to finding and keeping a healthy, long-term relationship, whereas things like negativity or pessimism might just get in the way."

Dr. B. says: "The Balance of the Emotional Bank Account Gets Higher with positive experiences with each other.  And positive experiences tend to depend on each person's Personality Traits and how they express them with their words , gestures and behaviors.  They also depend on how one perceives as well.  Basically, it's important to enjoy and make good memories with your partner."

 The original article continues: 

"That doesn't, however, mean you can't be in a healthy relationship if you aren't super cheerful, or a natural "glass half full" type. "While certain personality traits can help you find and maintain love, don't worry if you don't have them," Herring says. "These traits can be learned."  They're something you can decide to work on, and slowly begin to practice in your life.  You can also develop them by going to therapy, where you might, for example, learn to think with more positivity than negativity.

 Anyone can create a healthy, loving relationship if they want to.  And anyone can pick up the personality traits that make a LTR easier.  Here are the traits that experts say come in handy when it comes to having success with love."

 

1   Flexibility

Loving, long-term relationships require a certain degree of flexibility — especially when disagreements and conflicts arise. So the more you're willing to not always get your way and compromise, the better.

"If you are more flexible in your thinking style, then you typically have an easier time seeing another point of view and accepting that [there's often not a] 'right' or 'wrong' in a situation," relationship expert Sara Sedlik, MA, LMFT tells Bustle. "Both sides can be validated and both sides can learn to find the 'win-win' in a disagreement."

"This is a trait you can decide to adopt for yourself, by simply deciding you'll let things slide, and having a more "go with the flow" attitude. But it's also a trait that can be cultivated, possibly with the help of a therapist, who might be able to help you uncover why you were feeling more rigid in the past."

 

2   A Sense Of Humor

 "If anything's going to make life easier, and help you through difficult times, it's a sense of humor. "Humor is the most sophisticated of the natural defense mechanisms," Sedlik says. "If you take yourself too seriously, you are likely to let the small things weigh on you. If you can add humor into your life, and make light of a personally challenging situation or idiosyncrasy together (you both have to be on the same side of humor here), then the emotional charge is definitely less." (Andrew Zaeh for Bustle).

Dr. B. Says, "Making something lighter with a touch of humor or humility; is not the same as laughing at someone or being sarcastic.  Obviously, the latter could be destructive.  Basically, it comes down to not taking yourself too seriously.  Remember: It's more helpful to laugh with your partner; than to laugh at your partner."

 The original article continues: 

3   Empathy

"If a relationship is going to go the distance, it'll pretty much be a requirement that both partners have a strong sense of empathy. "This is the most important, in my opinion, because without empathy, we judge," Sedlik says. "And judgment leads to disconnection."  And disconnection leads to breakups."

Dr. B. says: "Empathy and Sympathy are NOT the same." 

The article continues:  "At the root of all relationships is the need to feel safe and vulnerable and truly seen for who we are without judgment," she says. "When we have empathy, we can reserve judgment and listen, validate, and have emotional connection."  (Andrew Zaeh for Bustle)."

 

4   Assertiveness

Assertiveness is another big one. "People in healthy relationships are able to state their needs and ask for them to be met," Herrings says. "They also, in turn, respond to their partner's requests," which is why this trait can help foster healthy, long-term relationships.

It can, however, be a tricky trait to learn — especially if you're shy or anxious. But again, it's something everyone can pick up, with time.   (Andrew Zaeh for Bustle)."

Dr. B. says, "A Key ingredient to Assertiveness is being Respectful.  Assertiveness requires Respect.  Whereas Aggressiveness or Aggression is different from Assertiveness.  When we are Aggressive, we are typically being Disrespectful.  And Disrespect kills relationships.  Think about it: Would you want to be with someone who disrespected you?"

 

5   Curiosity

"Curiosity is one trait that should be brought to a relationship in the beginning, and maintained from there on out. "Curiosity is crucial to maintaining healthy relationships because the ability to remain curious heads off relationship-damaging assumptions," therapist Alice Roberts, CSW tells Bustle. "When something goes wrong, a curious person holds their judgement until they understand more about the situation."

But a curious person might also find that their relationship stays fun and fresh, too — which goes a long way when it comes to staying together. "Curiosity ... helps couples avoid stagnation, as the curious couple is always going to be up for seeking out new adventures together," Roberts says.  (Alice Roberts, CSW).

Dr. B says: "If we remain curious -- especially in difficult times -- then we can hold off on judging our partner; and possibly head off the negative impact." 

 

6   Confidence

"People who are confident know what they want out of life, and they know how to get it, which is why "confidence plays a huge role in both attracting a partner and maintaining a secure long-term relationship," Roberts says.

"It's also a trait that makes it more likely you'll stand up for yourself in a relationship. As Roberts says, "Confident individuals are less prone to losing themselves in a relationship, allowing them to enjoy their partner as their equal." "Like assertiveness, confidence might seem like a trait that's impossible to attain. But it's one that can be worked on, and developed over time, with the help of friends, family — and possibly even a therapist."  (Andrew Zaeh for Bustle).

Dr. B. says, "Losing one's self in a relationship can be known as Codependency.  And this is sometimes a negative trait."

 

7   Positivity

"Again, you don't have to be a ray of sunshine in order to find love. But a sense of positivity certainly doesn't hurt. "When we’re around happy, upbeat individuals, it makes us happier too," Kat Haselkorn, a matchmaker with Three Day Rule in Washington, DC, tells Bustle. "Positivity makes you more fun to be around and can attract potential partners to you like a moth to a flame. If you’re a glass half empty person, it’s not the end of the world. Try to keep some of the negativity to yourself and find the positive spin on things. Then verbalize that."

 Positivity can also make relationship woes feel less earth-shattering. If you're going through a rocky period, for example, a sense of positivity can see you and your partner through to the other side.  (Hannah Burton/Bustle).

 

8   Open-Mindedness

 "If you're on a mission to find "the One," keeping an open mind certainly can help. "One reason for this is — love doesn't always come in the package we expect," Haselkorn says. "It's funny how many people have this checklist of characteristics they think they need to fall in love with someone, when really, that kind of rigid thinking can be isolating and lead to few opportunities for a relationship." That's why, people who allow themselves to "date outside the box," so to speak, may have more success in love.   (Andrew Zaeh for Bustle).

Dr. B. Says, "At the same time while you are trying not to be too picky, you want to be somewhat choosy and careful, and above all, take your time."

 

9   Self-Awareness

 Dr. B. says: "Being aware of ourselves helps us prevent bad things, and helps us say things that we need to say.  It also helps us know what we need.  It also helps us know what we don't want or don't need.  And it also helps us be more confident of ourselves; which then helps us be more pleasant and appealing to others.  

  It's important to identify, process, and accept  your own pain in life.  A cure is also a really wonderful thing.  At the same time, one should be careful to NOT be Ruminating to much -- or obsessing too much about the negative things in their life.  In other words if your World seems filled with negativity, it is good to avoid expressing negative emotions all the time.  Each expression (whether it's good or bad) has it's most appropriate and most effective time, place and situation to be shared.  

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And Surely There are Other Traits that could be Helpful to Having Good and Healthy Long Term Relationships.... RIGHT ???


In what ways might these Positive Personality Traits help prevent Domestic Violence?

  •   More positivity -- can help ward off negative thinking and regretful behaviors.  
  •   Staying Curious keeps us from being too judgmental.  Be sure that you truly KNOW what you think you know.  Judging the other person critically or too intensely or too often can lead to Domestic Violence or a breakup, to say the least. 
  •   Empathy, or being more aware of others' feelings also helps us develop more understanding and perhaps even more patience; which also helps reduce DV.
  •   Being assertive instead of being aggressive means we are more respectful and less disrespectful.  Which also means we are more communicative and less threatening.  And finally, it means we are probably more likely to get what we want and need.  
  •   Being less insecure, and less jealous helps our relationships.  Being more secure helps us prevent jealousy as well.  Being secure in yourself is important.
  •   Also being less rigid... or less one-minded can help.  Being more open-minded helps us to be able to truly consider things the other person is saying to us.  It also helps us be more patient.  And again, patience helps us prevent violence.
  •   Being more flexible helps bring even very serious conflicts to a peaceful ending.  Look for win-win solutions. 
  •   Being more able to compromise can be a key to happiness and longevity in healthy relationships.
  •   Being fun to be with promotes confidence and is almost always a plus to help smooth things out and prevent crises.  Being fun to be with helps generate really good memories also.  And good memories are important.
  • So above all, learn to laugh at yourself.

Think about it:  Could it be possible if BOTH me and my partner have healthier personality traits; then couldn't we have a better Relationship...  A more satisfying relationship.  And of course, a Relationship Free of Violence?

What might be your Positive Personality Profile???


*** Please CLICK HERE to 

Complete Your Positive Personality Profile Worksheet.***


(Originally Published 11/30/2020)

Sources

(From the Article: "9 Interesting Personality Traits All People Who Have Success With Love Have In Common"   (By:  BDG Media, Inc. By Carolyn Steber, May 3, 2018).  (Source).