Ideal and Received Affection Discrepancy: Investigating the Pathway to Unfulfilled Relationships

Cyprus Turkish Journal of Psychiatry & Psychology Vol.5 Issue.2

Doi:10.35365/ctjpp.23.2.07

RESEARCH ARTICLE / ARAŞTIRMA YAZISI

Ideal and Received Affection Discrepancy: Investigating the Pathway to Unfulfilled Relationships

İdeal ve Alınan Sevgi Uyuşmazlığı: Tatmin Edilmemiş İlişkilere Giden Yolun Araştırılması

Akshita Bakshi¹, Shadab Ahmad Ansari²

Abstract:

With the increasing frequency and openness of dating relationships in Indian culture, there has been a corresponding rise in reports of unhappiness and heartbreaks. The concept of affection, which carries the power to give and receive love, reveal attachment wounds, and complicate relationship dynamics, may play a significant role in these challenges. Therefore, this research aimed to target the underpinnings of romantic relationships by studying the foundation of a relationship on which it is built and maintained. Hence, the experience of individuals who are struggling with affection discrepancy and simultaneously coping with challenges such as the perceived fading of affection, which can result in unhealthy dynamics, was studied. Using Phenomenology, the data was obtained through in-depth, one on one interviews with 12 individuals in dating relationships, who have experienced the affection discrepancy, and dealt with the fading of affection. Results highlight the elements of ideal affection, the disparity between received, vs expected affection, participants’ contribution towards unfulfilled relationships, and common coping behaviors. The findings revealed that many participants had lowered their personal standards of affection. and settled for the bare minimum, or “just enough” love they received from their partners. The study also identified a pathway leading towards unfulfilled relationships and emotional exhaustion, shedding light on patterns of unhealthy relationships. The article concludes by discussing the limitations and directions for future research.

 Keywords: Affection, self-betrayal, fading love, attachment wounds, unmet expectations, coping

¹PhD scholar, Galgotias University, Faculty of Humanities, Department of Psychology, Uttar Pradesh- India, [email protected], Orcid; 0000-0003-1006-1336

²Prof., Galgotias University, Faculty of Humanities, Department of Psychology, Uttar Pradesh-India, [email protected], Orcid; 0000-0002-1831-9912

Address of Correspondence/Yazışma Adresi: Akshita Bakshi, Galgotias University, Faculty of Humanities, Department of Psychology, Uttar Pradesh- India, E-mail: [email protected]

Date of Received/Geliş Tarihi: 19.09.2022, Date of Revision/Düzeltme Tarihi: 21.02.2023, Date of Acceptance/Kabul Tarihi: 13.06.2023, Date of Online Publication/Çevirimiçi Yayın Tarihi: 17.06.2023

Citing/Referans Gösterimi: Bakshi, A. & Ansari, S. (2023). Ideal and Received Affection Discrepancy: Investigating the Pathway to Unfulfilled Relationships, Cyprus Turkish Journal of Psychiatry & Psychology, 5(2): 146-162

© 2023 The Author(s). Published by Cyprus Mental Health Institute / Cyprus Turkish Journal of Psychiatry and Psychology (www.ktppdergisi.com). This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited and is not used for commercial purposes. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/