Long physical distance between partners in a relationship is often cited as a stress on their partnership: the “tyranny of distance” in this regard is interpreted as a possible cause for the relationship’s premature end. When analyzing this intuitive notion in terms of a cause and effect schema, it appears that this thesis is borne out. Namely, numerous negative effects of a long distance relationship can be identified, all which oppose the concept of a healthy relationship.
Obviously, long distance relationships lack moments of close intimacy. Such close intimacy clearly defines mature romantic relationships. Distance makes these moments of bonding infrequent. Accordingly, the bonding process and development of a relationship is continually disrupted. Instead of learning to live together, the partners learn to live apart.
Use your promo and get a custom paper on
"A Cause and Effect Analysis of Long Distance Relationships".
Communication is furthermore interrupted. Normal dialogue between partners becomes more rare, as the long distance prevents prolonged periods of conversation. Certainly, modern technology alleviates some of these problems: via programs such as Skype, communication problems are alleviated. But this is not the same as a direct and physically directed communication, such that the partners essentially merely exist only as images to each other, instead of as real human beings.
Another key effect of distance is the lack of physical intimacy and romance. Romance and love develop not only through thought, but are consummated through physical proximity. Long distance relationships preclude this crucial aspect of relationships and thereby clearly negatively effect the growth of a normal romantic relationship.
In the same sense, the physical absence of the partner can dissolve the very notion that the partners are together in a relationship. One of the ways this can manifest itself is in issues of trust. The partners’ prolonged separation may engender feelings of mistrust, as one partner creates narratives about what the other partner is doing. The absence of physical closeness can therefore have a negative psychological effect of distorted visions of the relationship.
For these reasons, the common sense notion of the unhealthy nature of long distance relationships appears justified. To the extent that physical proximity is crucial to romantic relationships, long distance relationships cannot uphold this basic tenet in various ways. This does not mean that long distance relationships are ultimately impossible, but the development of the relationship is confronted with clear problems logically following from the absence of a partner who by definition must be close to his or her other.
