We have all met those couples that seem to be as in love as the day they first met.
Sometimes almost oblivious they are not alone, you catch them sharing lingering glances, affectionate touching, and private jokes. How do they do it? The short answer is: together. Research reveals that when couples are motivated to maintain relational quality, shared activities solidify and maintain romantic relationships.
What kind of shared activities improve romantic relationships? The answer may surprise you. Thankfully, you do not need to sacrifice your identity to immerse yourself in your partner´s passion for quilting or bird watching. Nor do the two of you need to embark on a daring adventure, seeking to climb Mount Everest or run the Boston Marathon.
Improving your relationship is much simpler, and easier. It involves sharing time, engaging in activities ranging from exciting to ordinary, with motivation focused on your relationship, not yourself.
From First Dates to Date Nights: Relational Maintenance
Yuthika U. Girme et al. in "Date Nights Take Two" (2014) reported on the effectiveness of shared activities to sustain relationships. Their results indicated that shared activities not only sustain relationships, they do so beyond what they describe as “threat-based maintenance strategies” such as accommodation — defined as "the tendency to inhibit negative behaviors and behave constructively in response to negative, hurtful partner behavior." They found that relationship quality was enhanced by activities that were stress-free, satisfying, and increased closeness.
However, there was a caveat. The impact of positive activity on relationship outcomes depended on partner dedication. Positive gains apparently occur only when partners are responsive and receptive to sharing relationships activities.
Not All Activities Are Created Equal
In discussing the results, Girme et al. discuss some reasons that relationship activities enhance relational quality. Prior research shows that joint activities that are novel and fun facilitate self-growth and counteract relational habituation. This is consistent with the current study, considering that some of the activities identified by participants included going on vacation, taking dance lessons, and attending concerts.
Other shared activities, however, were less exciting, more routine, and even mundane. They included talking, shopping, working around the house, and watching TV together. As it turned out, however, self-expanding activities did not predict relational closeness or quality. Instead, results showed that a wide range of shared relationship activities promote closeness and relational satisfaction, not just daring ones.
This is good news for couples who are not ready to gear up for their first joint skydive or bungee jump. Self-generated activities apparently enhance relational intimacy regardless of the novelty or thrill. How does this work? Girme et al. cite prior research opining that spending quality time together provides couples with opportunities for self-disclosure as well as acquiring a deeper understanding of one´s partner, which can build intimacy.
Regarding gender differences, the authors note that men and women may increase intimacy within close relationships in different ways. They give the example of women talking and self-disclosing with same-sex friends, while men opt for shared activities with other men such as playing sports together. They suggest that shared activities allow couples to incorporate both types of intimacy-building strategies.
Not all shared activities, however, will automatically improve romantic relationships. As with other types of seemingly positive behavior, motivation matters.
It Takes Two to Tango: Motive Matters
Better stated: it takes two to want to i together. In order to improve relationships, shared activities cannot be forced, or performed under duress. In order to enhance romance, the desire to maintain a relationship must outweigh the desire to please oneself.
In their research on couples´ shared activities, Girme et al. recognized that although a variety of activities can enhance relationships, underlying motivation predicted positive relational impact. Most of the couples in their study engaged in joint activities in pursuit of relational maintenance: to better understand each other or spend more time together. They note that in contrast, activities motivated by a desire for self-expansion or for a self-oriented reason (such as wanting to engage in an activity merely because it is enjoyable) may reduce the opportunity to achieve relational closeness, because the partner is not considered.
In fact, the authors found some evidence that shared activities prompted by self-concerns could even create tension or stress in a relationship, which consequently would be less likely to promote closeness. The impact of activity on relational closeness thus seems to depend on partner participation and responsiveness.
Successful Relationships Involve Both Work And Play
Great relationships incorporate the gift of shared time in terms of both quantity and quality. It appears that for couples motivated to maintain a loving, satisfying relationship, it is presence, not absence, that makes the heart grow fonder.
A version of this article was originally published in Psychology Today.
Wendy L. Patrick is a career prosecutor, named the Ronald M. George Public Lawyer of the Year, and recognized by her peers as one of the Top Ten criminal attorneys in San Diego by the San Diego Daily Transcript. She has completed over 150 trials ranging from human trafficking, to domestic violence, to first-degree murder. She is President of the Association of Threat Assessment Professionals San Diego Chapter and an ATAP Certified Threat Manager. Dr. Patrick is a frequent media commentator with over 3,00 appearances including CNN, Fox News Channel, Newsmax, and many others. She is author of "Red Flags" (St. Martin´s Press), and co-author of the revised version of the New York Times bestseller "Reading People" (Random House). On a personal note, Dr. Patrick holds a purple belt in Shorin-Ryu karate, is a concert violinist with the La Jolla Symphony, and plays the electric violin with a rock band. To read more of her reports — Click Here Now.
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