One Mindset Shift That Changes Relationships for the Better

"We all know how important communication skills are in building a healthy relationship, but we also need social confidence, empathy, and emotional self-regulation to work our way toward intimacy. One way to develop these skills is through relationship education, both for couples and single individuals. Relationship education gives us the knowledge and skills to form and sustain healthy relationships. A new study published in the Journal of Couple & Relationship Therapy analyzed data from 1,400 single participants in a relationship education program."

"It found that people who were less satisfied in their past relationships saw the biggest improvements in their relationship skills after completing the course. However, changes occurred only when people acknowledged the need to change. The simple act of recognizing the need for change seems to open the door to building healthier relationship habits, according to the researchers. This mindset shift worked best for never- divorced singles. These participants showed a stronger connection between their dissatisfaction in a past relationship and their motivation to change."

Relationship education builds communication skills, social confidence, empathy, and emotional self-regulation needed for intimacy. Analysis of 1,400 single participants in a relationship education program showed that individuals who were less satisfied with past relationships experienced the largest gains in relationship skills after course completion. Improvements occurred primarily when participants acknowledged a personal need to change. Never-divorced singles displayed the strongest link between past dissatisfaction and motivation to change. Divorced participants were less likely to endorse a need for change, possibly due to prior efforts or a tendency to blame ex-partners. Ongoing self-work supports better communication and conflict resolution.

Read at Psychology Today