The most reported strategy was balance strategies followed by avoidance strategies then directness strategies regardless of the relationship condition (trying to maintain when partner wants to escalate, de-escalate, or maintain).This, regardless of perceived partner intent, individuals primarily maintain their relationship through balance and avoidance strategies rather than directness strategies. Last, the rejects-romance group said that they would like the friendship to stay platonic, but the other person wanted it to become romantic. Idealization, reunions, and stability in long distance dating relationships. Face-to-face communication affords the greatest opportunity for precise communication because immediate feedback from the receiver can tell whether the message has been understood accurately. Dainton, M., & Aylor, B. These are clear strategic behaviors designed to give positive reinforcement. People begin to see the dyad as a single unit. Canary and Stafford mentions openness in a way that encourages discussion in a relationship that is filled with direction and goals. [25] Time spent on each level may differ depending on speed of the relationship or intimacy shared. Much more time in private life is spent with the significant other. Words like "I" or "me" become "ours.". Both are common behaviors, though they are embodied in different ways and perhaps with different ulterior motives. Part of this has to do with the difference in routine maintenance and an exchange relationship. This type of relationship can be one of the most challenging relationships to maintain. Having your own friends and interests is essential to any healthy relationship. 3. [19][20], Individuals in long-distance relationships are usually on their best behavior when they are able to be together in person. Repair of the relationship means "changing a relationship from its present condition and restoring it to a previous (more advanced) state after decline or decay."[1]. Modes of communication vary from spoken to written, verbal to nonverbal, and face-to-face to computer-mediated. Assurances, 4. People in a virtual-only relationship may be highly committed to each other and display just as much maintenance behavior as those in close proximity. This page was last edited on 19 October 2020, at 02:18. [3], Behavior patterns in a relationship can be classified as being strategic or routine. ", "Social relations and life satisfaction: the role of friends", "Riding the relationship escalator (or not)", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Relationship_maintenance&oldid=984250388, Wikipedia articles with style issues from October 2014, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, to keep a relationship in a specified state or condition, to keep a relationship in a satisfactory condition and, the participants reach minimal agreement about the relationship, relationships can stabilize at different levels of intimacy and. The study of 2,000 women found that half of all women have had a boyfriend or husband who was ‘high-maintenance’, with 19% saying their current partner is difficult to manage.