From: The Globe and Mail
Losing Our Other Significant Others: Without Social Interaction, Many are Placing Unrealistic Expectations on Live-in Partners
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After a year locked down, many Canadians find their community ties weakened. The characters who used to populate everyday life – work colleagues, gym buddies, craft groups, pub friends, local business owners – have dimmed from view.
Together, they formed a community of “other significant others”– OSOs for short – the people we turn to for a multitude of social and emotional needs. Social psychology professor Eli Finkel coined the term to describe people who help us outsource, so we don’t overwhelm our romantic partners.
A year into the global crisis, stressed and alienated from their OSOs, people are increasingly relying on live-in partners to fill these roles – straining their relationships with unrealistic expectations in the process.
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Read the whole story (subscription may be required): The Globe and Mail
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