Three science-backed signs you should get out of your relationship

Are you perfectly suited to your Valentine?

Alexander Sehmer
Friday 12 February 2016 16:29 GMT
Comments
Constantly monitoring your options will definitely undermine your relationship
Constantly monitoring your options will definitely undermine your relationship (Getty)

Your support helps us to tell the story

In my reporting on women's reproductive rights, I've witnessed the critical role that independent journalism plays in protecting freedoms and informing the public.

Your support allows us to keep these vital issues in the spotlight. Without your help, we wouldn't be able to fight for truth and justice.

Every contribution ensures that we can continue to report on the stories that impact lives

Kelly Rissman

Kelly Rissman

US News Reporter

Have you met your perfect match?

So you're not sure?

Well, without wanting to ruin the mood as Valentine's Day approaches, here are three science-backed indicators that you should break-up:

1) Are you thinking about someone else?

It won't come as a surprise that scientific research shows constantly monitoring your options undermines your relationship.

People have a tendency to think the grass is greener and thinking you've got options may be a welcome boost to your self-confidence.

But a study examining commitment levels shows the more time we spend thinking about a better bet, the less committed we are to our relationship.

2) Are you both growing as people?

We all have desire to improve ourselves and that is often achieved through our relationships with a loved one.

Researchers refer to this as the 'self-expansion model', and the more opportunity you have to grow in your relationship the more fulfilling and committed that relationship will be.

So if they're not helping your grow, they should probably go.

3) Are you ignoring what your friends and family say?

Family and friends are often better judges of our relationships than we are, according to a study by Tara MacDonald at Queen's University in Canada.

The study compared how long people predicted their relationship would endure, with how long the person's roommate and parents though it would last.

The roommates were by far the most accurate.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in