More precisely an imbalance. Yes, today we will talk about couples in which the partners are not initially equal in status. About couples that consist of a teacher and a student, a boss and a subordinate, a doctor and a patient. Such couples are often condemned, but today we are not interested in the moral side of the issue, but in the fact that the imbalance of social status, financial well-being and level of power that exists in such couples, have a serious and often destructive impact on the relationship between the partners. First, let’s define the concept of power in a relationship. When we talk about relationships between partners, the concept of power begins to include not only control and subordination, which are also not excluded, but also the ability to distribute responsibility, take it upon oneself, solve problems, and support each other. How power will be expressed in a relationship - positively or negatively - depends on the balance of power in the couple. In a healthy relationship, power is distributed equally. This means that everyone remains themselves, everyone contributes approximately equally to the relationship. Partners feel free and openly share thoughts, feelings, and experiences. They are not painfully dependent on each other and that is why balance is possible. An imbalance of power in a relationship, in turn, can accompany them from the very beginning or appear in the process. There are many reasons for this. This includes emotional dependence, when, for example, one of the partners is addicted to illegal substances, and the other stays with him to save him, and financial inequality, and the difference in social status. The problem of relationships that begin with an imbalance of power is not even that they will be complex in themselves, but the fact is that such an imbalance does not allow us to be completely sure that these relationships are generally mutually voluntary. Thus, subordinates can enter into relationships with employers for fear of dismissal, and female students with professors for fear of expulsion and additional charges. The examples, of course, are largely exaggerated, but not without some truth. Sign up for a consultation: WhatsApp, Telegram +79202946939 Skype: ktatian1