Emotional investments are often expressed through love, trust, support, encouragement, respect, empathy, affection, admiration, appreciation, and so on. They represent an individual's feelings towards another person that may be romantic, platonic, friendly, familial, professional, or social.
When these emotions become unbalanced, they can cause significant problems within a relationship. This is especially true for soldiers who share their lives with others during long deployments away from home. When one partner feels more strongly than the other, it can lead to power imbalances, misunderstandings, and even conflict.
Unbalanced emotional investment between soldiers can occur when one partner does not feel equally invested in the relationship compared to the other.
If one soldier feels deeply committed to their partner while the other does not return those feelings, this can create tension and resentment. One soldier may start to question why they are putting so much effort into the relationship without getting anything back in return.
If one soldier feels that their partner is not as invested in them as they are, it can make them feel insecure and undervalued. This can lead to feelings of rejection and loneliness, which can further damage the relationship.
Another way that unbalanced emotional investments can arise is when one partner has different expectations for the relationship than the other.
If one soldier expects their partner to show more dedication to the relationship, it can cause friction if the other partner does not meet those expectations. This can result in arguments and disagreements, leading to a breakdown in communication and trust.
If one soldier feels like they are doing all the work to keep the relationship going, they may begin to resent their partner's lack of involvement.
Power asymmetry can also be caused by unbalanced emotional investments. If one soldier feels more emotionally invested than the other, they may become jealous or possessive. They may try to control their partner's actions or behavior to maintain their sense of power within the relationship. In contrast, if one soldier feels less emotionally invested, they may withdraw from the relationship altogether. This can leave the more invested partner feeling hurt and confused, leading to conflict and distance between the two soldiers.
Misunderstandings can arise due to unbalanced emotional investments. When one partner does not understand how the other feels about them, it can create confusion and frustration.
If one soldier tries to express their love but their partner seems disinterested, this can lead to questions about whether the relationship is worthwhile. One soldier may feel like they are putting all the effort into the relationship while getting nothing in return, which can cause them to question why they bother at all.
Unbalanced emotional investments between soldiers can have serious consequences for a relationship. It can lead to power imbalances, misunderstandings, and even conflict. To avoid these problems, both partners must communicate openly and honestly with each other about their feelings and expectations. They should strive to maintain a healthy balance of emotions and support each other equally throughout their deployment.
How do unbalanced emotional investments between soldiers lead to conflict, power asymmetry, or misunderstanding?
Emotional investment refers to how much individuals value their relationships with others and themselves. An imbalance of this investment can result from various reasons such as differences in upbringing, cultural norms, life experiences, personalities, and social roles. When there is an unequal distribution of emotional investment, conflicts, power asymmetries, and misunderstandings can occur.