(Maria Cohut/ Medical News Today) — At some point in our lives, we may find ourselves in a romantic relationship that makes us unhappy, yet we still choose to stick it out. Why persist in a joyless romance when we could simply break up? A new study has found a surprising answer.
Unfortunately, happy romantic relationships are very familiar and often the focus of books, movies, and agony aunt columns.
But why do people find it so difficult to break free of situations that they are less than enthusiastic about?
One intuitive answer may be that the relationship becomes the person’s “normal,” something that they are used to and may be afraid to trade for the unknown of singlehood.
Or, perhaps, the unhappy partner is afraid that, once they break up, they will be unable to find a better partner and build a stronger, improved relationship. A new study, however, suggests that the real answer may lie elsewhere. (…)