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                     “Learn How Human Psychology and Behavior Can Affect Your Relationship:                                                         Avoid These 12 Behaviors at All Costs.”   Introduction It is not a secret that relationships call for work. But sometimes, we can unknowingly sabotage our relationships—or the relationships of those around us. Check out the list below to see if you or anyone you know might be guilty of any of these 12 behaviors that destroy relationships.   1. Being defensive 2. Withholding compliments 3. Criticizing 4. Name-calling 5. Refusing to apologize 6. Playing the victim 7. Making assumptions 8. Blaming others 9. Holding grudges 10. Ignoring problems 11. Interrupting others 12. Complaining Unresolved Issues There are some unresolved issues that you just need to avoid. If you can’t seem to get past them, it will only lead to heartache down the road. You need to be honest with yourself and with your partner about what’s going on. If you’re not ready to talk about something, then it’s best to just steer clear of it altogether.   It’s also important that you don’t try to bury your head in the sand. Ignoring an issue is only going to make it worse in the long run. Deal with things head-on and you’ll be able to work through them much more easily. Lack of Empathy Do you ever find yourself not caring about what your partner is feeling? You’re not alone. A lack of empathy is one of the biggest killers of relationships. When we don’t bother trying to understand how our partner is feeling, we’re essentially telling them that their feelings don’t matter.   We can avoid this by making a conscious effort to be more empathetic. This means listening actively and putting ourselves in our partner’s shoes. It can be difficult to do this at first, but with practice, so it becomes easier. And the payoff is worth it—just think of all the fights you’ll avoid, and all the happiness you’ll bring to your partner’s life. Poor Communication When it comes to relationships, poor communication is one of the biggest killers. This can take on many forms, but the most common is simply not listening to your partner. You may be thinking, “I’m listening, I’m just not agreeing with them.” But that’s not what your partner needs from you. They need you to hear them, digest what they’re saying, and give an honest response. Failing to do this will only lead to misunderstandings and resentment. Manipulation Manipulation is a behavior that is often hard to spot, but it can be destructive to a relationship. Manipulation is when someone tries to control or influence another person through underhanded or devious methods. Manipulation can take many forms, from subtle Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) techniques to more overt emotional manipulation. CBT is a type of therapy that aims to change the way someone thinks to change their behavior. While CBT can be unhelpful, it can also be used to manipulate someone by changing the way they think about themselves or their situation. For example, a manipulative person might use CBT techniques to make their partner doubt their intuition or memory. Emotional manipulation is another form of manipulation that can be difficult to spot. This is when someone tries to control another person by playing with their emotions. For example, they might guilt trip their partner into doing something they don’t want to do or play on their fear to get them to do what they want. Both of these types of manipulation can be extremely harmful to a relationship, as they erode trust and mutual respect. If you think you might be manipulative, it’s important to seek help from a therapist or counselor who can help you learn healthier ways of relating to others. Withholding Affection One of the most common complaints I hear from couples is that one partner feels emotionally neglected. In other words, they feel like their affectionate needs are not being met. If you’re not a touchy-feely person, you can still express affection through words and deeds. That might mean cooking dinner for your partner, sending them a sweet text message during the day, or doing something special for them on their birthday. The important thing is to be thoughtful and deliberate about how you express your affection. If you’re withholding affection as a way to punish your partner or get back at them for something they did, that’s not healthy behavior. It will only lead to resentment and bitterness, and it will ultimately destroy your relationship. Infidelity or Dishonesty Number six on the list of behaviors that destroy relationships is infidelity or dishonesty. When you are not faithful to your partner, or when you are dishonest with them, it creates a feeling of betrayal. This is one of the most difficult things to recover from in a relationship. If you have been unfaithful, it is important not to be honest with your partner about what happened. This will help them to begin to trust you again. If you are not honest about your infidelity, it will be even more difficult to rebuild trust. Dishonesty in a relationship can take many forms. It can be something as small as hiding a purchase from your partner, or it can be something much bigger, like lying about an affair. Regardless of the size of the lie, dishonesty creates mistrust and can destroy a relationship. Controlling Behavior One of the most destructive relationship behaviors is what’s commonly referred to as “controlling behavior.” This is when one person in the relationship tries to dictate how the other person lives their life. It might manifest as trying to control what the other person wears, who they spend time with, what they do for fun, or what their career should be. It can also show