Understanding love relationships in a global context : supporting couples across cultures

Abstract

The couple relationship is typically associated with the hope of fulfillment of our need to be loved and cherished in the course of our adult life. Such hope is rooted in our human need for safety, love and connection to a significant other. This might explain why choosing to be in a couple relationship has endured over time in different cultures across the globe and is a predominant choice for the majority of adult persons. As is amply explained in the next chapter on the significance of the couple relationship, a fast-growing body of knowledge is now pointing towards the vital importance of meaningful relationships for our well-being. The quality of the couple relationship features prominently in this regard. Therapists, researchers and policy makers all point towards the psychological, psychosomatic and physical ill effects, which can ensue when the couple relationship stumbles or fails. Moreover and in spite of the fact that children are no longer necessarily born and brought up in the context of a couple relationship, the majority of them still are, and the influence of the parents on the children’s quality of life is enormous. [Excerpt from Introduction]