"Many people stay in relationships that they, in their hearts, know are not working. They are acutely aware of how little their partner contributes to their life emotionally, financially, or relationally. They may also silently put up with vague promises, inconsistent effort, or lop-sided growth in the relationship. This is why, when they're asked about why they choose to stay, they rarely say they're happy. Instead, they say things like, "It's not that bad," "I've already invested so much,""
"From a psychological perspective, this pattern has less to do with love and more to do with how the human brain evaluates loss and the cost of change. Here are four reasons why you might be choosing to stay in relationships that don't serve you. 1. You See Your Partner as 'Not Bad Enough' One of the strongest forces keeping people in unsatisfying relationships is loss aversion,"
Many people remain in relationships that are familiar but unfulfilling because the brain weighs immediate losses more heavily than potential gains. The psychological concept of loss aversion causes people to preserve invested time, shared routines, social identity, and hope for improvement rather than face uncertainty. Prospect theory shows people prioritize avoiding loss over pursuing gain, so the pain of leaving often exceeds the relief of freedom. Leaving also requires acknowledging tangible losses—time, shared life, and disrupted expectations—so people settle for relationships that are merely 'good enough' rather than nourishing.
Read at Psychology Today
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