Signs of a Healthy Relationship
What are some characteristics of a healthy relationship?
Equality
- Equal decision making power
- Shared responsibility in the relationship
- Neither partner restricts the other to gender roles
- Outside support networks of friends and family for both partners
Communication
- Sharing of thoughts and ideas
- Opinions of each partner are valued equally
- Each partner listens to the other
- Partners use respectful language and gestures, even in disagreement
Trust
- Partners are honest with and believe one another
- Both partners accept the validity of each other’s feelings
- Partners are dependable
Safety
- Partners are emotionally supportive and encouraging
- Safe sharing of fears or insecurities
- Respect for each other’s physical space
- Physical force is never used to assert one’s will or as punishment
- Each partner supports the other’s goals, feelings, friends, and activities
- Partners accept ‘No’ and their partner’s right to choose his/her sexual values and limit
