How Partners Maintain Relational Empathy When Trauma, Operational Stress, Or Asymmetrical Emotional Capacity Disrupts Communication
In a relationship, it is essential to establish mutual understanding between partners. This means that each partner must show an interest in knowing what the other person is feeling. It also involves making an effort to understand their point of view and putting oneself in their shoes.
Trauma, operational stress, or asymmetrical emotional capacity can disrupt communication in such a way that one partner may find it difficult to communicate effectively with the other. Therefore, how do partners maintain relational empathy when these things happen?
The first thing that partners should do is to be sensitive and aware of each other's needs. They should try to understand their feelings and what they are going through.
If one partner has been through a traumatic experience, they might need time to heal before talking about it. The other partner must respect this and give them the necessary support to recover from the trauma. In addition, partners should be patient and kind to each other when dealing with operational stress. One may have had a busy day at work while the other has just returned home from school, meaning that they need some time alone to relax. Asymmetrical emotional capacity refers to a situation where one partner feels more strongly than the other about something.
One partner might feel more upset about a disagreement than the other, leading to miscommunication. If this happens, both partners should work towards finding common ground and compromise.
To build and maintain relational empathy, partners should be open-minded and willing to listen. This means that they should listen attentively without interrupting or judging the other. Active listening involves paraphrasing what the other person says and asking questions for clarification. It also involves showing genuine interest in what the other person is saying by nodding, smiling, and using body language appropriately. Open-mindedness means being flexible and willing to consider different perspectives. Partners should avoid making assumptions and trying to understand each other's viewpoints.
Partners should also create a safe environment for communication. This means creating an atmosphere of trust and mutual respect. They should not judge, criticize, or shame each other but instead provide constructive feedback. Creating such an environment encourages partners to share their feelings and thoughts freely without fear of retribution. When partners communicate honestly and transparently, it becomes easy to establish relational empathy.
Partners should try to see things from each other's perspective. This entails putting oneself in their shoes and understanding how they think and feel.
Relational empathy is essential in any relationship.
Trauma, operational stress, and asymmetrical emotional capacity can disrupt communication between partners. To maintain relational empathy when these happen, partners must be sensitive and aware of each other's needs, be patient and kind, be open-minded, show genuine interest in what the other is saying, and create a safe environment for communication. Partners should also strive to put themselves in each other's shoes and communicate honestly and transparently.
How do partners maintain relational empathy when trauma, operational stress, or asymmetrical emotional capacity disrupts communication?
Empathy is defined as understanding another's perspective by experiencing their feelings and thoughts. When partners experience such difficulties, they may find it challenging to relate with each other emotionally. One way that couples can maintain relational empathy despite these obstacles is through active listening, which involves paying attention to nonverbal cues, reflecting back what one partner says, and acknowledging their emotions.