1. Which pattern (rigid complementarity, competitive symmetry, or submissive symmetry) do you think would be the most difficult to change? Why? Which would be the most damaging to a relationship? Which would be the most potentially damaging to the self-esteem of the individuals involved?
I think that submissive symmetry would be the hardest to break. I think this is true because when people are both in a submissive state of mind, they become comfortable and scared at the same time. They don't want to displease the other person but don't want to make a decision for themselves. Yet at the same time by not making a decision and knowing the other person won't either, it leaves both people in a sense of control because they already know how the other person is going to respond.
In a relationship, I think rigid complementarity is the most damaging. I say this because to get to a point where the submissive or dominant partner wants to relinquish their roles, they fell into those roles through a complementary pattern either on accident or on purpose. Since they have been in these roles for so long, the other partner may not want to take a new role because of comfort or other reasons. Sometimes when trying to transition out of a new role, people may not go about it in the right way and thus cause arguments and fights. It's very tricky especially if a relationship has been the same for a long time.
In addition, the same would be damaging for those individuals involved because it may send a wrong message. By being more submissive or dominant, the other person may receive that message as being unhappy, or not caring about the other person when in fact, they may not be the case. A transition in roles can be misleading and even more hurtful especially if a relationship has been the same for many many years.
No comments:
Post a Comment