ABSTRACT
Technology has changed the way relationships occur in today’s world. Although most relationships still develop face-to-face, strong relationships and even romantic relationships are also formed online. Some people are prone to cycle through relationships, discarding old ones and forming new ones over and over again, because they are addicted to the euphoric feelings that are characteristic of the intensifying stage. Marriages and commitment ceremonies provide greater incentive for the partners to work to make the relationship successful. Restoring the relationship becomes more difficult in the circumscribing stage because of the constraints on communication. The definition of conflict provides us with a basis for understanding the sources of conflict escalation, which include unfulfilled needs, faulty attributions, and assigning cause or fault to others’ behaviors. Power and intimacy differences in the relationship also play a role. Passive-aggressive people can then get pleasure in casting themselves in the role of innocent victims.
