Does being in a Relationship affect your interaction with the opposite sex?

Effects of Relationships on Opposite-Sex Interaction
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Effects of Relationships on Opposite-Sex Interaction
Literature Review
According to Guerrero and Andersen (1996), people in relationships have expressed jealousy among themselves. It is mainly caused by the uncertainty of what may happen. Jealous has occurred where individual fear other people being given more attention that the partner who is in the relationship. For instance, a potential rival may make an individual in a relationship to worry his or her fate with the partner. Too much attention to an individual of opposite sex may make a partner feel that the spouse may not be faithful since he or she could easily give a chance to the person give attention. The increasing rate of jealousy may make an individual opt to leave a certain relationship with the fear that he or she may be left by the partner. However, when an individual in a relationship realizes that the partner is not comfortable with the interaction with the opposite sex, he or she may reduce the interaction. For instance, if a girl notices that his boyfriend is not happy with the friendship of other males, the lady may reduce the interaction. Therefore, it is important for the individuals to note the jealous of their partners and hence reduce the interaction of the opposite sex.
The study by Guerrero and Andersen aimed at discovering the extent of the uncertainty that may exist in the relationships. The test may check whether it could be positive, negative or neutral in the relationship.

Friends and romantic partners are likely to experience uncertainty in the relationships since they are connected, and jealous may make one feel that the partner is giving more attention to another individual of the opposite sex. Uncertainty occurs at an unpredictable time since the attention to opposite-sex may occur at any time. Additionally, a partner may feel insecure at times when the other person is allowed to express his or her issues to the partner (Guerrero and Andersen, 1996). Uncertainty commonly exists if the partners are not aware of the other person’s beliefs, attitude, interests, and behavior. For instance, uncertainty may occur if an individual has the interest of counselling but the partner is not aware. Thus, when the individual may have a private meeting with a person suffering from stress, the other partner may feel. To reduce the rate of insecurity, the individuals in the relationship need to know each other better and accept the interests of one another. In case a partner realizes that his or her partner is in doubt or insecure, they should hold a conversation to make the issues understand and note that the relationship is only on professional matters. Furthermore, partners should avoid opposite-sex friendship. However, the opposite sex friendship may still exist at the professional level, and hence the partner should learn to accept it.
Jealous is less where the individuals have interaction with the siblings. The partners know that they are secure if their fiancées are spending time with the family members as compared to the other members of the society. For instance, time spent with the cousins may be taken easily as compared to the time that a lady may spend with male friends. Thus, the male friends seem to be a threat to the man, and hence he may wish that his girl should avoid close interaction with the man. Therefore, most people may approach their partners to inform them concerning their unhappy state when they the other partner is having a lot of interaction with the person of the opposite sex.
Guerrero and Andersen also discovered that some factors determine the level of jealousy in the romantic relationships. It may be influenced by biology, culture, situations and partner initiated among others. Additionally, the study also discovered that the level of jealous affects the cognition of each of the parties in the relationship. Consequently, it controls how individuals communicate with one another and the other members of the society. Therefore, jealousy may reduce the communications to the opposite sex.
Carol and Teney (2015) researched with the aim of realizing how adolescents who are dating or in a romantic relationship interact with other people of the opposite sex. Before a relationship, individuals seem to have a lot of time with all the members of the society despite the gender. In fact, it is observed that students who are in a relationship are likely to reduce the interaction with the people of the opposite sex. The situation occurs since both girls and boys wish to acquire social status, and have the sense of belonging. To show the members of the society that an individual is contented with the partner who he or she is in the relationship with. Therefore, they tend to keep all the other people of the opposite sex away from them to ensure that the other age- mates note the single person that he or she is dating. Additionally, the partners need to increase the trust of the other, and hence he or she has to reduce the communications with the other friends of the opposite sex.
During adolescence, young people socialize in groups that may involve people of the same sex and others of the opposite sex. They are free to move in those groups having fun and interacting without limits that may make them worry about the complaints that may occur in case they are in a relationship. However, after some time youths start engaging in relationships and therefore leave the groups of the single boy and girls. The crowded group that existed previously disintegrate slowly as every student starts to have a partner (Carol, & Teney, 2015). The dating couples do not spend most of their times with the singles since they feel that their interests may be different. Mostly, the dating adolescents may have some time with their same-sex friends who are in relationships too but rarely could be they found interacting with people of the opposite sex or the single men or women. Relationships begin due to the interests of socializing with the other-sex peers. The adolescents have the goal of getting partner whom he or she can spend time with and feel contented. However, immediately the relationship with the other sex becomes successful, the individuals tend to segregate themselves from the group of the mixed peers. Therefore, it can be observed that the mixed-sex groups act as a platform where individuals meet opposite sex peers who they can form a relationship with. However, after the relationship is formed, the two exit the group.
Additionally, Carol and Teney (2015) stated that adolescents who overcome the social anxiety that may exist in the groups to enter into a relationship. They may engage in romantic relationships that may call for the separation from the other members of the teens especially the opposite sex since they may seem to be a threat to the other partner. It is observed that the dating partners who spend time the two of them have a possibility of having a quality relationship and reduce the love insecurity that may be experienced in the relationship. Therefore, most dating adolescents avoid large groups where the interaction of the partner with people of the opposite sex may be high.
The discussion by Carol and Teney also showed that the relationship with the opposite sex would be limited where the partners are living in areas where the culture or language of the people living there are different from the individuals. For instance, a German may take some time to socialize with people of the opposite sex in Africa. The cultures of the two groups are different, and hence the interaction may be limited. Additionally, the interaction of married people with other of the opposite sex is also influenced by the upbringing of the individual. The parental advice plays a great role in shaping the socialization of the individuals. For instance, some of the parents may warn their daughters or son on the danger of interacting with people of the opposite sex. Most parents may argue that increased communication with the members of the opposite gender may lead to break up and hence the interaction is reduced.
According to Valenzuela, Halpern and Katz (2014) people in relationship restrict their partners from communicating with other people from the opposite sex. The control has gone high such that in the current days, men and women check the communications happening between the partner and other people on Facebook. The social media platform has caused a lot of marriage problems after a partner is suspected of having an affair and communications through the Facebook. A comment on someone’s status or picture has resulted to the increased mistrust among the spouses. For instance, a man may comment on a picture of a woman that she looks nice. That could trigger communication that could make the lady feel appreciated and thus reply with humbleness. The wife of the man may be mad at the comment arguing that the man has begun being unfaithful. The worry for the married couples is that the partner may meet someone in the Facebook and through communication, they may end up meeting physically, and thus t could be the beginning of cheating in marriage (Valenzuela, Halpern & Katz, 2014).
Valenzuela, Halpern and Katz explained that some divorce cases have resulted from the opposite sex interactions through the Facebook. The platform has been viewed to be the cause of the breakups due to the messages that may be sent to the spouses or through communication they may make to reach another person of the opposite sex. For instance, an individual may meet an old friend in the Facebook where they may plan on meeting. The two may later engage in a secret relationship that may be hurting when the other marriage partner may realize. The secret may be revealed when an individual may use the other partner’s phone and notice some messages from the Facebook that could be annoying (Valenzuela, Halpern & Katz, 2014). Therefore, to avoid the conflict that may result from the interaction with people of opposite sex, partners may opt to avoid the communication. Insecurity may be reduced among the married couples by avoiding commenting on photos of opposite sex. The comments on the opposite sex persons may increase jealousy on the other partner since he or she may feel that attention is diverted to another person.
The study also showed that most men and women who engage in interaction with Facebook users who belong to the opposite sex mostly have sexual and emotional conversations. It has been observed that those who have such type of interaction spend a lot of time on Facebook. Most married men and women engage in Facebook interaction people from the opposite sex for not being happy with the current partner (Valenzuela, Halpern & Katz, 2014). However, the communication is done secretly to ensure that the other partner is not aware of the case. Additionally, the Facebook accounts for the ones who are engaging opposite sex communication are mostly logged out after the communication to ensure that the other partner does not access the messages sent or received.
Married couples are always jealous when their partners are busy communicating in the Facebook. In fact, it conflict arise when it discovered that the person given the much attention is from a different gender. The conflict may be much to the extent of causing breakups. Therefore, before breakups and divorce are reached, the individuals may warn each other concerning the Facebook interaction with opposite-sex persons. Thus, individuals who wish to save the marriage may reduce the communications. Some have gone to the extent of terminating their Facebook accounts or blocking individuals that they may have started interactions that may be a threat to the marriage.
The statistics collected by Valenzuela, Halpern and Katz showed that between 2008 and 2010 most of the divorce cases were caused by the existence of Facebook. During those times People had not adapted the communication through the social media platform. In current days, for couples to reduce the risk of conflict, they avoid opposite sex communication on Facebook.
Farrer and Gavin (2009) explained the social information processing theory that was developed to justify that the online communication has similar effects just like the face to face interaction. Passing messages through the social media may cause the intended effects as those in face to face conversations. The messages passed through the online platforms may induce the feeling that can make individuals have emotions and reactions towards a particular topic or event. However, the computer-mediated communications (CMC) may be slower in the feeling creation compared to the face to face communication (Farrer, & Gavin, 2009). Additionally, the internet may be facilitated by the images which may be sent to please the receiver with the aim making him or her trust or adhere to the requests. Therefore, online communication has the same feeling that may be induced by the methods of communication such as face-to-face communication, phone, and video calls.
Farrer and Gavin’s argued that people in relationships are against the communication of their partners with opposite sex through Facebook. The theory proofs that feelings may be developed through the online communication and hence it need to be avoided. It is taken to be the first step in the process of being unfaithful. Realization of interaction with opposite sex in Facebook has caused conflicts in the relationships. To reduce the conflict people in the relationship has opted to avoid communication through the Facebook to minimize the insecurities and worries of the other partner.
Individuals in relationships interact differently with people of opposite sex. The individuals who are dating or married may feel content with the sole partner and hence reduced communication. Adolescents and young people in relationships leave mixed-sex groups where the interaction may be free. Additionally, people in a relationship may be jealous of the opposite sex person talking to the partners due to insecurity. Therefore, they may request their spouses to avoid the interaction since it may affect their relationship negatively (Farrer, & Gavin, 2009). Additionally, the social media platforms have resulted in interactions that may be a threat to relationships, and thus partners may agree to abandon the practice for the welfare of their relationship. Hence, relationships reduce interaction with persons from the opposite sex.
Individuals who have experienced the feelings that may be developed through the social network communications are always worried when they discover that their partners are communicating with other people of the opposite sex. The fear develops since they think that their partners may develop feelings on the opposite sex and thus a break up may arise. The insecurity in the interaction makes the partners warn their spouses concerning opposite sex communication. In case the behavior of communication is not controlled, jealous may make the partners to break up or reach a point where they do not trust one another (Farrer, & Gavin, 2009).
The social media platforms are improving their communication channels and making them more effective (Farrer, & Gavin, 2009). For instance, one can send video and images through Facebook. Some of these images and videos may make an individual to like the person of the opposite sex on the platform more than the current partner. Therefore, jealous spouses may restrict their partners through coming up with agreed regulations that can reduce the cases of Facebook interaction. The social information processing theory assists the spouses to understand the behavior of the partners when they are having emotional communication in the social media platforms that are likely to arouse the feelings of an individual. Furthermore, the theory proofs that feelings may be aroused despite the arguments of an individual that he or she may have communications without the aim of developing romantic relationships. Therefore, the theory may recommend that people in a relationship should agree to avoid social media interaction with people from the opposite sex.
The explanation by Farrar and Gavin (2009) aimed at educating people that the social media platforms needed to be utilized in the best way. The computer-mediated communications may affect the families in a negative way since they may lead to the introduction of a third party in a relationship. Additionally, the opposite communications should be reduced to avoid the risk of breakup or insecurity of the partners. The development of love feeling through social media interaction should be avoided especially to the opposite sex.
Mayo (2017) explained the Erick Erickson developmental theory which argued that adolescents needed relationships so that they could fulfil self- worth. They feel that the social status could boost their social status and also the sense of belonging (Mayo, 2017). Additionally, it acts a sign of identity where an individual wishes to be identified with another person he or she loves. Most adolescents feel good when they have someone whom they can spend time with and who gives them attention at all times. Furthermore, a teenager wishes to have a social status among his or her peers. He or she wishes to have a reputation that they are dating with a particular girl or boy. Therefore, the relationship is protected from all threats that may lead to a breakup.
The adolescent in relationship check all factors that make the dating process to be over. For instance, jealous may prevail among the teen on the interaction of the partner with people of the opposite sex. They feel that replacement can occur to a partner if he or she allows a rival to be given time and place. The individuals may not be willing to lose their status since it can make him or her to feel incomplete. Additionally, it may be an embarrassment to the peers. Therefore, the fight for love and affection makes an individual to reduce the interaction with opposite sex and also warn a partner on the same for a better relationship. Thus, most people who are in relationships have limited interaction with people of the same sex. Moreover, they spend most of the time with the dating partner to satisfy the feeling of self-worth and that of the sense of belonging.
Relationships have been seen to be a barrier in the level of socialization that individuals may have with other people of opposite sex. Single people have the freedom to socialize with anyone and spend time with anyone at any place provided they feel good and safe. However, people in relationships have the extent to which they may interact with the members of the society especially those from the opposite gender. For instance, a girl who is dating could hardly spend a night in another man’s house without the presence of the husband unless he is a relative. To increase the trust of the partners in the relationship, the two tend to reduce instances of meeting opposite sex friends. Additionally, people in a relationship are jealous when they discover that the partner is giving so much attention to another person of the opposite sex. They believe that when dating, your partner should give you maximum attention and no other person of the opposite gender should be put closer than the partner.
The argument by Erick Erikson proved that most of the young people in the relationships aim at having social status (Mayo, 2017). They want to have a good reputation among their peers and also ensure that they have a feeling of affection and a sense of belonging. For instance, a girl may wish to have a boyfriend who she can be spending time with and also show to the members of the public that she has someone who cares for her. Additionally, the theory shows that as the age of individuals increase, they plan on how to get married and start families. Therefore, any distractions for the progress of the relationship is highly discouraged. The communication among people from the opposite sex is among the issues that are greatly addressed by people in a relationship. They wish to ensure that the partner avoids all the conflicting circumstances that may arise from interacting with people from the opposite sex.
The study by Mayo showed that any person in the adolescent and early adulthood aim to get a partner who they can join hands and start a family (Mayo, 2017). Opposite sex interaction with those in a relationship may arise where either of the parties may feel that the current partner may not be the best to be within a family. Therefore, they may plan to interact with other opposite-sex individuals with the aim of discovering a better person for the relationship. Contrary, if the client individuals are comfortable and happy in the relationship the external interaction will people from the opposite sex will be limited.
Theory
Two theories have been developed to explain reasons why people in relationships have limited communication with people of the opposite sex. One, the developmental theory by Erick Erikson stated that the sixth stage of psychosocial development involves Intimacy vs. Isolation. At this stage, adolescents and young adults from the age of 18 start to look for someone else whom they can trust other than the family members (Mayo, 2017). The individual enter into relationships with the people they love most since they feel that they are the ones who care. Additionally, they are jealous when that person seems to care about another person who he or she may fall in love. For instance, a girl may feel jealous when her boyfriend shows love to another girl. Therefore, because of these situations, people who are dating control their interaction with people of the opposite sex to save their relationships and make their partners happy.
Secondly, the interaction with people of the opposite sex is also enhanced or affected by the social information processing theory. The theory was developed by Walther with the aim of justifying that the social media communication may connect people who far from one another. Although it may take longer time for feelings to be developed compared to face-to-face communication, once the feelings are developed they may be hard to distract (Farrer, & Gavin, 2009). For example, the theory shows that people may have feelings of love through sending messages via Facebook and other social media platforms. The social information processing theory has the argument that online platform interactions may make people in relationship to be insecure since they may fear that their partners may develop feelings of love to the opposite sex. Therefore, the social media interaction to opposite sex should be reduced for security in relationships.
Hypothesis
Below is the hypothesis that can be developed from the literature review discussed above.
People in relationships are jealous of their partners, and hence they are insecure with opposite-sex interaction.
Dating people feel that attention offered to another person of opposite sex may be the beginning of the unfaithfulness. Due to mistrust, individuals may request their spouse to reduce the interaction for security. Therefore, to save the relationship, the interaction may be stopped. The main cause for the interference of the interaction could be jealous since may be seen of value than the dating partner. To protect his or her place in the relationship, the interacting partner needs to be informed of the situation to avoid increased attention on the opposite sex partner. In currents days, people are insecure when their partner are interacting through the social media platforms. For instance, spouse may not like their partners to engage in the communications through Facebook since he or she may find a better person who may make the previous one to be dropped. Therefore, all forms of communication to opposite sex are reduced by people who are married or in a relationship.
References
Carol, S., & Teney, C. (2015). Attitudes towards intergroup dating among Brussels adolescents: The interaction of gender and ethnicity and its determinants. European Societies, 17(2), 132-157.
Farrer, J., & Gavin, J. (2009). Online dating in Japan: A test of social information processing theory. CyberPsychology & Behavior, 12(4), 407-412.
Guerrero, L. K., & Andersen, P. A. (1996). Jealousy experience and expression in romantic relationships. InHandbook of communication and emotion (pp. 155-188).
Mayo, J. A. (2017). Linking Developmental Themes to Theories in the Autobiographical Narratives of Life-Span Development Students. Journal of Effective Teaching, 17(1), 1-15.
Valenzuela, S., Halpern, D., & Katz, J. E. (2014). Social network sites, marriage well-being and divorce: Survey and state-level evidence from the United States. Computers in Human Behavior, 36, 94-101.