How Do We Decide Whether Or Not To Break Up?

Breaking up in a relationship can be one of the more stressful things a person can do in any given year. Scientists have decided therefore to test what sort of factors typically contribute themselves to the decision of whether or not to finally break up. The scientists found that the following factors: level of investment, social support network, responsiveness, self-expansion, and the expectations of the relationship itself are the most important factors that can sway whether a person stays or goes in a relationship.

Key Takeaways:

The motivation to ‘work it out’ for those in a difficult relationship can be directly proportional to how much each feels they have invested in it.
However, when escalating investment is met with diminishing return it could be sensible to end the investment.
A series of failed relationships can lead to a participant identifying rather too well with their role of failure, leading to a sense of shame.

“Anxiously attached individuals were more likely than others to report a greater number of reasons for both staying and leaving.”