Relationships are essential for human beings to thrive, whether they're romantic, platonic, or familial.
When one partner is deployed, the relationship can face many challenges that might threaten its very existence. This article will explore how psychological mechanisms like relational trust, attachment, and intimacy help keep a relationship strong despite these pressures.
Relational Trust
One psychological mechanism that supports relational trust during high-pressure deployments is communication. By staying in touch regularly, partners can build rapport and create bonds even if physically apart. Communication helps maintain a sense of connection and closeness, reducing feelings of isolation and loneliness.
Openness and honesty are crucial in fostering mutual understanding and trust. Partners should share their thoughts, emotions, and experiences to deepen their bond.
Another mechanism is commitment. Partners who make a conscious decision to remain committed to each other, regardless of the deployment's duration, strengthen their relationship's foundation. They may develop shared goals, values, and aspirations that bind them together through thick and thin. They also show dedication and loyalty by prioritizing each other's needs and desires above those of others.
Compassionate love, another mechanism, involves caring about someone's well-being beyond selfish motives or rewards. Deployment is stressful for both parties, so compassionate love requires empathy, patience, and support from afar. It means being there for your partner mentally and emotionally, showing you care about their struggles, and giving advice when needed.
Attachment
Attachment is another vital mechanism that can help relationships survive high-pressure deployments. This mechanism refers to an individual's desire to seek out comfort, safety, and security from their partner. By establishing emotional closeness with their loved one, individuals feel safe and supported during difficult times. It enables them to rely on their partner as a source of stability and security.
One way to build attachment is by creating shared memories and experiences. Couples may plan future activities, like vacations or date nights, before deployment, which they can look forward to afterward. Sharing these plans and reminiscing about past events reinforces the connection between partners.
Practical support, such as sending care packages or checking in regularly, can also strengthen attachments. Doing things for each other, like making meals or taking care of children, shows the importance of the relationship and creates a sense of belonging. Partners should be flexible and adjust their expectations to accommodate their partner's unique circumstances.
Intimacy
Intimacy in a relationship is the level of openness and vulnerability between partners. It involves sharing thoughts, feelings, and desires without fear of judgment or rejection. During high-pressure deployments, intimacy can be challenging because partners are physically apart and have less time together.
Intimacy can still exist through alternative means, such as virtual communication. Video chats, text messages, and phone calls allow partners to express themselves authentically and maintain a deeper connection. Partners should also find ways to keep the physical aspects of the relationship alive, like kissing over video chat or sending sexy pictures.
Mutual respect and admiration can enhance intimacy during deployments. Partners who appreciate and value each other's contributions to the relationship create emotional closeness that fosters intimacy. They may praise each other's achievements, give compliments, and show appreciation for their efforts.
Relational trust, attachment, and intimacy are essential mechanisms that can help relationships survive high-pressure deployments. By staying connected, being committed, showing compassion, building attachment, and creating intimacy, partners can weather any storm and come out stronger on the other side.
What psychological mechanisms support relational trust, attachment, and intimacy during high-pressure deployments?
Trust is an essential component of any healthy relationship. It involves beliefs about another's benevolence, honesty, competence, and integrity. Trust can be broken down into different types, including character-based trust (trusting that someone will do what they say they will do), situation-based trust (trusting that someone will act appropriately given specific circumstances), self-trust (trusting one's abilities), and other forms of trust.