Monogamy

The most common form of relationship is, of course, monogamy, involving two partners. We most often see the reflection of monogamous relationships in culture — movies and books, songs and series. A deep emotional bond forms between the partners, which becomes a support for them. According to a study, long-term monogamous relationships positively influence even the health of the partners — both physical and mental. But there are pitfalls: the level of jealousy in a nuclear family is generally noticeably higher.

Polygamy

Polygamy is another fairly well-known, albeit less common, format. It is a form of official marriage where one participant has multiple spouses. Polygamy is generally sanctioned by state law — for instance, in one form or another, it is allowed in about 50 countries worldwide. It is often based on the religion or traditions of a particular people. Among the advantages of such a format are sometimes mutual aid and cooperation, mainly among women. However, the drawbacks prevail: Polygamous unions are generally inequitable. Power is often concentrated in the hands of the 'main' partner (usually a man), while the 'secondary' partners (typically women) suffer from abuse.

Polyamory

Polyamory is the practice or desire of having multiple emotionally and sexually significant relationships at the same time with the awareness and consent of all participants. Key features are awareness and honesty, as partners need to negotiate a lot, speak openly about their emotions, and be empathetic. Among polyamorists, there is statistically more sincerity, emotional closeness, and sexual satisfaction, while jealousy is less common. A person becomes more attentive to themselves and others, more aware, deeply analyzes their feelings, and speaks freely about them to reach agreements with partners. Sometimes, polyamorists find it difficult to maintain balance – it happens that someone starts paying more attention to one partner, "sidelining" another or others.

Open Relationships

Open or free relationships. Partners can meet and usually have sex with other people, depending on the specific agreement. Third parties remain outside the relationship. In open relationships, partners highly value their freedom, mutual honesty, and openness. They treat each other with respect and build a trusted connection on the border between autonomy and cohesion. They also often take sexual health more seriously than monogamous couples. But sometimes people in open relationships face an overwhelming sense of guilt towards third parties—such as if they are unaware of the 'primary' partner. Such relationships are not necessarily psychologically flawless—jealousy can occur, agreements can be broken, and partners may be unequal.

Situationships

Situationships. Two people spend time together, go on dates, may have sex. But their status is not fully clear, and partners may wonder, "What are we to each other—friends, lovers? Will we be together? Should we stop this?" Situationships have a lot of uncertainty and "space." On one hand, there's a lot of freedom, on the other, there's no support from the partner. They are completely autonomous, yet have a relationship that's comfortable in terms of closeness—they can go on romantic dates and have sex with a person they like. However, such relationships can be quite painful if one partner desires a stable relationship while the other "keeps a distance," not explicitly stating their intentions.

Guest Marriage

Guest marriage. It is a monogamous, serious relationship with mutual obligations, with the only distinction being that such partners do not live together. They can visit each other and stay overnight, meet in neutral territories. Guest marriage reduces the likelihood of domestic quarrels. This relationship format helps maintain boundaries between partners and preserve each individual's personal space. Additionally, there remains a certain allure of unspoken, romantic and sexual play, which positively affects the level of passion in the couple. Trust is important for such relationships — sometimes people may become jealous because some part of the partner's life is hidden from them. Furthermore, guest marriage can be painful if one of the partners would like to live together but is forced to agree to this option.

8 Things People with High Emotional Intelligence Avoid

Emotional intelligence, what is it? As far back as the 19th century, scientists began to question why a high IQ did not guarantee a successful career and life. An explanation was found for this, which was that the most successful people are capable of recognizing emotions, consciously managing them, understanding intentions and desires, motivation, and this applies not only to themselves but also to others. Collectively, all these (and some other) qualities were included under the concept of 'emotional intelligence'.

8 Things People with High Emotional Intelligence Avoid

In scientific circles, there is currently much debate about whether emotional intelligence is innate or can be learned. Most researchers tend to favor the latter. Consequently, they identify a number of traits that people with high emotional intelligence avoid.

8 Things People with High Emotional Intelligence Avoid

1. They don't ignore others' feelings. People with high emotional intelligence are open to compassion. They never ignore others' feelings and emotions. They are genuinely interested in what a person is experiencing. 2. They don't play the victim. Emotionally mature people have control over their own feelings. They understand that they are responsible for the feelings they experience. Therefore, they never blame others for having a bad day. They don't play the victim and redirect all negative emotions into productive thoughts.

8 Things People with High Emotional Intelligence Avoid

3. They are calm. An emotionally intelligent person does not lose touch with their feelings. However, they also understand that living constantly in one's head can lead to problems. They stay in contact with their emotions but do not let them take over. 4. They do not allow others to control their emotions. People with strong emotional intelligence do not let themselves be destroyed. Despite their sensitivity, they maintain control over their emotions and keep a positive attitude towards the situation.

8 Things Emotionally Intelligent People Avoid

5. They don't engage in unnecessary conflict. One of the main positive traits of an emotionally intelligent person is the ability to avoid conflicts in order to conserve their energy for more positive interactions. They are excellent at navigating situations and understand which conflicts should be defused and which should be developed to a critical point. 6. They don't gossip. An emotionally intelligent person understands that gossip only causes harm, including to reputation. Such people know that it is more beneficial to engage in positive conversations with others on more reasonable topics. Therefore, they themselves avoid gossipers but easily find those who support their pursuit of normal communication.

8 Things Emotionally Intelligent People Avoid

7. They are not afraid to say "no." For many people, saying "no" is a problem, and as a result, they end up shouldering commitments they simply cannot handle. A person with developed emotional intelligence knows their limits, respects themselves, and understands when it is necessary to say "no" without excuses. 8. They do not seek approval from others. Emotionally intelligent people know that approval is not an objective assessment of accomplishments. These people know their worth and the value of their work, they cannot be bought by flattery or praise, and they remain quite indifferent to approval. Nevertheless, they are always respectful towards other people and their opinions.

Emotions are an integral part of life

Emotions are an integral part of life. They cannot be killed, thrown away, or buried. They are present in a person from birth to their last day. And they are undoubtedly our friends. Our way to express our state of mind at any given moment. From childhood, we hear phrases like "don't cry", "don't shout", "stop being angry", or "stop freaking out". Thus, a person suppresses their emotions without understanding what's happening. From this, people grow up with a weak psyche and unstable mental balance.

Understand Your Emotions

Emotions are an integral part of life. Learn to understand what you are feeling at the moment: joy, anger, sadness, fun, surprise, or fear. By assessing your condition, it will be easier for you to gauge another person's state. It will be easier to make acquaintances, build relationships, and develop a career. Do not be a hostage to your feelings, do not try to hide them, just track them and channel the energy in the right direction.

Depression may be passed from mothers

Depression and low mood may be passed from mothers. Scientists have noticed: in mothers with depression, the brain reacts differently to mistakes, and this poor tuning is reflected in the brains of their daughters. Even if the girls do not yet have obvious symptoms, their brains echo the experiences of their mothers during pregnancy. This could be an early marker of a tendency towards depression before its signs appear.

Girls don't always need expensive gifts

Many men mistakenly think that a woman's love can be bought. Believe me, no matter which restaurant you take her to, nothing compares to a spontaneous surprise in the form of her favorite treat when she is sad, or a bouquet of flowers. Nothing compares to noticing that she did her eyeliner differently, or at least has a new manicure. Women need attention, not money!

The Most Important People in Our Lives

The most necessary, desired, and long-awaited people appear in our lives only when we create space within ourselves for their presence. We free ourselves from memories, from the past, from fears, and our own foolish prohibitions and limitations. We become our true selves not in solitude. Solitude only aids in the cleansing of the soul. We discover our true selves only with those who open in our heart a world of kindness, tenderness, small daily miracles, smiles, and boundless happiness.

Conflicts as a Tool of Love

Conflicts are not the end of love, but a tool of it. Psychologists are confident: the ability to argue correctly strengthens the bond. How? Focus on the issue, not the person ('It's important to me that we discuss plans more often' instead of 'You never listen to me!'). Pause is your friend. If emotions run high, take a timeout and return to the conversation later. After a quarrel, be sure to 'repair' the relationship: hugs, a joke, a sincere conversation. Remember, a quarrel is not war, but a search for a common solution.

Every woman seeks her reflection

Every woman seeks her reflection in the eyes of a man. And the one who says she has found her destiny in work, children, psychology, or knitting is deceiving us or herself. This is how the Creator has arranged it, that a woman is born and continues infinitely – in the arms of a man.

Learn to Let Go

Learn to let go in time, even those you love. When you hold onto someone out of fear of losing your love, you lose more. Everyone belongs only to themselves. Never try to remake another person. Accept them as they are; we are all different, but that’s the charm. People become close not through similarity, false compromises, or even shared pasts. True closeness comes from sincere enjoyment of differences. When you don't try to remake someone, persuade them, or desperately stuff them with advice.