In the best-case scenario, you should always benefit from a relationship, such as love, security, closeness, affection and much more. A partnership should bring mostly positive things into life. However, there are limits. Some people choose their partner based on its overall benefit to them.
Advantage orientation is a big issue in today’s world. Everyone wants to get higher, faster, further, influencers hoard gifts from companies and discount coupons are a real hobby for some. But this trend does not stop at some relationships. However, this is not just about material and visible things, such as consumer goods or that someone only has the goal of living at the expense of their partner. Even when getting to know each other, one or the other chooses a useful profession in the dating portal, for example: lawyer, tax consultant, fitness trainer and many more. Wouldn’t it be nice if the new partner could just process their own tax return purely out of love?
But there is also the possibility that you will not necessarily be exploited financially or as a service provider, but on an emotional level. Psychotherapist Erin Leonard wrote in Psychology Today about five warning signs that your partner might be emotionally exploiting you:
These five warning signs could be a sign that your partner is only using you for their purposes, hobbies or feelings. A relationship should always be at eye level and the relationship between the interests and emotional reactions of the other person should be reasonably balanced. If the partnership becomes imbalanced, there are either frequent arguments or one person in the relationship falls short and permanently cuts back on their needs.
Sources: Psychology Today, GQ
