How Over Familiarity Example Can Ruin Relationships
Trust, mutual understanding, and the comfort of being around each other are some of the cornerstones of healthy relationships. It’s natural for individuals to have close affiliations with certain people in their lives. Still, overfamiliarity can be a significant problem that could cause irreparable damage to a relationship, be it romantic or platonic.
What is Over Familiarity?
Over familiarity is a state where individuals become overly comfortable with each other, to the point where they neglect the little things that make their relationship special. They become so accustomed to each other that they forget the importance of maintaining boundaries, respecting each other, and nurturing the relationship. This phenomenon is relatively common and can occur in many contexts, from family relationships to romantic partnerships.
How Over Familiarity can Ruin Relationships
When individuals become overly familiar with someone, they tend to let their guard down, leading to an array of inappropriate behaviours. For instance, a married couple might stop affectionate gestures like holding hands or hugging, with the partner assuming that they are always present. Unfortunately, this leads to a lack of intimacy, which can cause frustration and dissatisfaction in the relationship. Over familiarity can also lead to a lack of respect for individuality and differences, which come up naturally in relationships. Non-prejudice habits or words used before might become acceptable because of being too familiar.
Examples of Over Familiarity Ruining Relationships
A good case in point of how over familiarity can destroy a relationship was highlighted in the famous TV series “The Office.” Jim and Pam, a couple whose relationship progressed from colleagues to best friends, were inseparable until they got married. As their marriage progressed, they started slipping into the over familiarity trap where they started taking each other for granted. This led to Jim becoming too comfortable, which resulted in Pam feeling ignored, and they almost got divorced. They recovered by talking about the issue and deciding to make their relationship a priority.
Another example is a family relationship, such as a parent-child relationship, where over familiarity can lead to a lack of respect for individuality and disregard for boundaries. Too much familiarity can lead to a lack of a sense of structure, leading to a lack of discipline for children to follow in life.
How to Avoid Over Familiarity
Firstly, both parties in a relationship need to pay attention to the little things that make their relationship special. This entails putting in the effort to maintain the elements that make the relationship enjoyable and exciting without having to rely on over familiarity.
Secondly, it is noteworthy to highlight the importance of respecting boundaries in every relationship. People in relationships need to be aware of each other’s personal space and maintain it, especially if they have evolved to become intimate partners.
Lastly, communication is essential in avoiding over familiarity. Open communication helps to bring up issues and talk about them before they spiral into bigger problems. If people are honest with each other, it is easier to address the problems that stem from familiarity and recognise how that is impacting their relationship.
Conclusion
Over familiarity can create an environment that leads to broken relationships. However, identifying and addressing it on time can save a relationship and avoid potential irreparable damage. Understanding the importance of maintaining personal space, respecting boundaries, and keeping open communication can go a long way in preventing over familiarity and nurturing healthy relationships.
