Power struggles are common in relationships. Many people aren't aware they're happening.
Here's some signs your relationship has power struggles:
Power struggles are dynamics in relationships where: there's "one upping" and a feeling of being in competition.
In relationships with chronic power struggles, conflicts aren't worked through.
Instead, each partner wants to "win" the argument.
SIGNS YOUR RELATIONSHIP HAS POWER STRUGGLES:
- partners speak over each other, or attempt to dominate the conversation
- blaming and deflecting is common ex: "I did that because you did x."
- vulnerable information is weaponized
ex: you share with your partner how you were unfaithful to a past partner, and it's used to create a narrative "you cheated before, and I'm sure you're doing it again!"
- push pull dynamics (periods of close connection, and periods of withdraw)
- silent treatment or stonewalling used to avoid issues or conversations
- high defensiveness
- refusing to come to a team based decision "my way or the highway" behavior