relationships and the media :: essays research papers fc

Reflecting on the past three months, I find that the most interesting topic was those with some shield of relation to romantic relationships. I find these interesting because I am in a romantic relationship and it seems that a lot of previously unfathomable knowledge has been bestowed upon me about these relationships. Romantic relationships involve various aspects such as commitment, intimacy and passion according Julia Wood, the author of Inter psycheal Communication. It is agreeable that a relationship is based on these ideals, but one must inquire, is that all a relationship is based upon? In her definition, Wood seems to leave out two pregnant aspect of a relationship, trust and investment.One thing that Wood states in her writings is that commitment is a pivotal part of a relationship. Commitment is not a feeling, correcting many misconceptions of this thought. Commitment is a decision. It is the choice to remain within the relationship and it links two partners to a futur e. When two people decide to commit, fight is not seen as a time to end the relationship but as a resource to make the relationship stronger by working done their actions. Commitment involves the choice to speak and listen effectively to ones partner. When two people commit, they take responsibility for continuing to invest in and cathexis for their bond (Wood 267-268). With commitment comes challenge. Various items can affect two peoples choice to commit and their future within that commitment. One of these challenges includes distance. With distance two people are not able to share the small events of their day with their partner. Distance disables two people share their ordinary comings and goings that helps relationship stay twist together. Another challenge is unrealistic expectations for time together. Partners who are distant tend to expect each moment that they spend together to be perfect. They believe that conflict should be avoided and that they should be joyfully fo cused on their partner not realizing that conflict no matter what pillowcase of relationship is inevitable. Another challenge with this type of relationship is unequal effort that the two partners invest to make and maintain their connection. One of the main reasons distant relationships do not work is because one person feels as if they are doing all of the work to keep the relationship solid and ongoing. (Wood, 407)I call these challenges because they can be overcome.