Relationship Advice What Is A Negative Couples Cycle?
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Feb 19, 2025 Explore the intriguing concept of a negative couples cycle, where protective moves escalate conflict instead of resolving it. Discover how miscommunication leads to emotional defenses like criticism and withdrawal. The discussion highlights the importance of recognizing these patterns and understanding the emotions behind them. Learn how to shift from blame to curiosity, encouraging better connections and effective repair strategies in relationships.
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Bakery Vignette
- Imagine a bakery with partners dividing tasks: baking and transactions.
- One day, lateness and leftover pastries trigger a conflict escalating into accusations about punctuality and baking amounts.
Negative Cycles
- Negative cycles, rooted in blame, drive most relationship conflicts.
- These cycles stem from reacting to protective moves instead of addressing emotions.
Protective Moves
- Protective moves like criticism or defensiveness escalate conflict.
- These manifest as fight-fight or pursue-withdraw dynamics, varying in energy levels.