Problems Of Romantic Love In Teen Relationships

Romantic relationships between teenagers are an important issue, as society is becoming freer and more open in this area too. A person’s perspective on love builds over time based on his or her experiences, the messages conveyed by the environment, and the characteristics of society. Still, many young people believe in certain traditional ideals related to love that can, in the worst case scenario, cause them to remain in toxic relationships. There are many other places of danger in teen relationships as well.

Myths about romantic love

Over the years, countless different myths have been developed regarding romantic love. Although many of them belong to the Middle Ages, they have passed through this day through books, movies and the media. Examples of such myths include:

• The idea that quarreling and even violent behavior are a normal part of a relationship. This is closely related to the belief that constant quarreling is a sign of mutual passion.
• The idea that jealousy is an important part of love and a relationship – like a sign of true love.

• The myth of the delicate princess and the brave prince. The pattern of how a brave man saves a woman is still repeated today in many stories. This creates an image of men as heroes and women as helpless creatures who can’t hold their sides.
• The idea that love changes people. While this is true to some extent, many mistakenly think that a violent person behaving aggressively, for example, would change his or her habits in a relationship. The fact that a partner is believed to change over time can make people endure and tolerate destructive behavior.

• The myth that there is only one right person for everyone and that there is a soul mate for everyone that complements him completely.

Problems of romantic love in teen relationships

Traditional ideals and myths about romantic love can make people build unequal and unhealthy relationships. This is especially dangerous in adolescence, as the first experiences of relationship and love often occur at this stage of life.

These relationships are determined by social and cultural influences, which often defend the idea that love is synonymous with effort, suffering, and pain. All of this exposes young people to perpetrators and victims of gender-based violence, as it can be difficult for them to identify toxic behavior, making them tolerate inappropriate behavior.

In addition to this, there are other risk factors that can lead to gender-based violence among teenagers:

• Perceived domestic violence
• Friends who have a violent relationship with their own parents
• Low self-esteem (either with the victim or the attacker)
• Poor social skills and lack of empathy of the perpetrator

The first experiences of love and relationships are the foundation for a young person’s future relationships. Therefore, it is important for parents not only to monitor for possible inappropriate behavior of the child and this partner, but also to correct such behavior and thus help young people build healthy and balanced relationships.