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