Personal Relationship PDF
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This document details personal relationships, covering topics such as attraction, love, commitment, gender identity, and sexual orientation. It explores how these factors influence relationships during adolescence and adulthood.
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Personal Relationship Personal Development Many personal relationships, such as the so-called romantic relationship, are typically formed during the adolescence. Romantic relationship may begin with being attracted to someone, develop into loving him or her, and may end up with committing to s...
Personal Relationship Personal Development Many personal relationships, such as the so-called romantic relationship, are typically formed during the adolescence. Romantic relationship may begin with being attracted to someone, develop into loving him or her, and may end up with committing to spend the lifetime with that person. Many adolescents from middle to late adolescent stages find romantic relationships as the core of their social life. In these stages, there is much thought, talking, and fantasizing about being in a romantic relationship. Although most adolescent romantic relationships are short-lived, these have great impact on adolescents' life. The way they handle such early romantic relationships may determine their behavior in their future committed relationships in adulthood. Attraction When one is attracted to another person, there is a physical or sexual feeling or desire being felt. Attraction is responsible for the desire to feel (e.g. kiss, hold the hand, or touch) the object of affection. Some say that it is the "Chemistry" part of love. Attraction can be considered as a precursor to love. Normally, teenagers are attracted to physical beauty. Individuals who display good grooming and hygiene usually get more attention. But there are those who are attracted to individuals who are intelligent, with sense of humor, or with good personality. Persons who are sociable, cheerful, and who display positive dispositions are preferred. Similarity in interests, intelligence level, socio-economic status, or religious affiliation may also serve as cause of attraction. Nonetheless, as a manifestation of the adage "opposite poles attract," some are attracted to people who have personalities opposite to their own. Attraction Age may also be a factor in attraction. Adolescents are typically attracted to people of the same age, though girls may tend to prefer older boys. Other bases of attraction include race or ethnicity, family background, popularity, and wealth. Love Love, they say, is a many splendored thing. Indeed, it is something which cannot be fully captured in any single definition. As it is subjectively defined, there could be as many definitions of the concept as there are many people defining it. Love is a very multifaceted and complex concept which could be experienced in every stage of human life— childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. As a way of attempting to somewhat grasp what love is, let us study one theory about it. Commitment In a romantic relationship, commitment is a promise, pledge, or decision to stick by each other through the ups and downs of the relationship. Commitment is about wanting and deciding to stay together as a couple in the future - despite twists and turns that life encounters. Gender Identity Gender identity refers to a person's deeply felt internal sense of their gender, which may be different from the sex assigned to them at birth. While sex is typically assigned based on biological characteristics such as genitalia, gender identity is a deeply personal and internal experience that can include aspects of masculinity, femininity, a combination of both, or neither. It's important to note that not everyone's gender identity aligns with the sex they were assigned at birth, and people may identify as transgender, non- binary, genderqueer, genderfluid, or with other terms that reflect their unique experiences of gender. Respecting and acknowledging individuals' gender identities is a crucial aspect of affirming their dignity and rights. Sexual Orientation Sexual orientation refers to a person's enduring emotional, romantic, or sexual attraction to individuals of the opposite sex (heterosexual), the same sex (homosexual), or both sexes (bisexual). Sexual orientation is a complex and multifaceted aspect of human identity that can be fluid and may exist on a spectrum. STRAIGHT A person who is exclusively attracted to members of the opposite gender. AROMANTIC A person who does not experience romantic attraction, although they may still experience sexual attraction. ASEXUAL A person who does not experience sexual attraction. BISEXUAL A person who has potential for emotional, romantic, or sexual attraction to people of more then one gender. GAY sexually or romantically attracted to people of one's own sex (used especially of a man). LESBIAN A woman who is emotionally, romantically, or sexually attracted to other women. PANSEXUAL A person who has the potential for emotional, romantic, or sexual attraction to people of all genders. QUEER An umbrella term used to express a spectrum of gender orientations and genders often used to include those who do not identify as exclusively heterosexual. QUESTIONING A person in the process of exploring their sexual orientation and/or gender. Gender Expression Gender expression refers to the external presentation of a person's gender identity through behaviors, clothing, hairstyle, voice, and other forms of self-presentation. It encompasses how individuals choose to express their gender, which may align with societal norms or differ from them. People may express their gender in various ways, including: MASCULINE Traits or styles typically associated with being male. FEMININE Traits or styles typically associated with being female. ANDROGYNOUS A mix of both masculine and feminine traits. GENDER NON-CONFORMING Expressions that do not fit traditional gender norms. Gender expression can be fluid and may change over time, reflecting a person's individuality and how they feel most comfortable in their identity. Sternberg’s 3 components of LOVE Sternberg’s 3 components of LOVE In Sternberg's theory, the concept of love is a triangle that is made up of three components. Some of these components are focused on the love between two people in a romantic or sexual relationship, but they also apply to other forms of interpersonal relationships. The three components of love are: Intimacy, which involves feelings of closeness, connectedness, and bondedness. Passion, which involves feelings and desires that lead to physical attraction, romance, and sexual consummation Commitment, which involves feelings that lead a person to remain with someone and move toward shared goals Sternberg's 7 Types of Love Friendship Components: Intimacy This type of love is when the intimacy or liking component is present, but feelings of passion or commitment in the romantic sense are missing. Friendship love can be the root of other forms of love. Infatuation Components: Passion Infatuation is characterized by feelings of lust and physical passion without liking and commitment. There has not been enough time for a deeper sense of intimacy, romantic love, or consummate love to develop. These may eventually arise after the infatuation phase. The initial infatuation is often very powerful. This is the type that would most closely align with the idea of love at first sight, as it is characterized by an immediate and intense attraction to another person. This type of love includes passion, but it lacks the liking and commitment components of love. Empty Love Components: Commitment Empty love is characterized by commitment without passion or intimacy. At times, a strong love deteriorates into empty love. The reverse may occur as well. For instance, an arranged marriage may start empty but flourish into another form of love over time. Romantic Love Components: Intimacy and Passion Romantic love bonds people emotionally through intimacy and physical passion. Partners in this type of relationship have deep conversations that help them know intimate details about each other. They enjoy sexual passion and affection. These couples may be at the point where long-term commitment or future plans are still undecided. Companionate Love Components: Commitment and Intimacy Companionate love is an intimate, but non-passionate sort of love. It includes the intimacy or liking component and the commitment component of the triangle. It is stronger than friendship because there is a long-term commitment, but there is minimal or no sexual desire. This type of love is often found in marriages where the passion has died, but the couple continues to have deep affection or a strong bond. This may also be viewed as the love between very close friends and family members. Fatuous Love Components: Commitment and Passion In this type of love, commitment and passion are present while intimacy or liking is absent. Fatuous love is typified by a whirlwind courtship in which passion motivates a commitment without the stabilizing influence of intimacy. Often, witnessing this leaves others confused about how the couple could be so impulsive. According to data collected in one piece of research, reproductive success may be greater in cases where women have fatuous love and men have empty love. However, marriages involving fatuous love often don't work out. When they do, many chalk the success up to luck. Consummate Love Components: Intimacy, Passion, and Commitment Consummate love is made up of all three components and is the total form of love. It represents an ideal relationship. Couples who experience this kind of love have great sex several years into their relationship. They cannot imagine themselves with anyone else. These couples also cannot see themselves truly happy without their partners. They manage to overcome differences and face stressors together. Psychology of LOVE