RELATIONSHIPSWhat is a healthy relationship?

Love

Why do we fall in love? Love adds richness to our lives Love is different for parents, family, friends,

and significant others Ability to feel romantic love develops during

adolescence

Qualities of Love

Love has 3 main qualities: Attraction, closeness, and commitment

Attraction- the “chemistry” part of love Closeness- the bond that develops when you share

thoughts and feelings Commitment- promise or decision to stick with the

person Can be combined in different ways for different

relationships Closeness without attraction is like a best friend Attraction without closeness is like a crush Attraction and closeness combined is romantic love

If commitment develops the relationship will last. If not, it will end. Some high school relationships last, many don’t.

What makes a good relationship?

After the initial attraction, closeness develops Ways closeness develops are by:

Learning to give and receive Revealing feelings Listening and supporting

Why do relationships end?

Not enough time to give to the relationship

Life takes you on separate paths Priorities change Moving on

The end of a relationship can be painful Seek support Time

Am I in a Healthy Relationship?

What makes a healthy relationship? Mutual respect Trust Honesty Support Fairness/equity Separate identities Good communication

What’s an Unhealthy Relationship?

Mean, disrespectful, controlling behavior Warning signs- Does you boyfriend/girlfriend:

Get angry when you don’t drop everything for them?

Criticize the way you look or dress? Keep you from your friends or talking to members

of the opposite sex? Want you to quit an activity you love? Ever raise a hand when they are angry like they

are going to hit you? Try to force you to go further sexually than you

are comfortable with?

Sources

http://kidshealth.org/teen/your_mind/relationships/love.html#

http://kidshealth.org/teen/your_mind/relationships/healthy_relationship.html#