Why Relationships Matter

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Boundaries define expectations and appropriate behavior within a relationship.

Setting and implementing boundaries facilitates trust and cohesion in romantic relationships.

Boundaries may be needed if the relationship feels out of balance or you have lost your sense of self.

To start, think about what you need to feel safe and secure in your relationship.

Relationships are regulated by rules and expectations about how to act, which define what is expected and appropriate behavior within the relationship. Rules, or boundaries, are believed to serve several functions, including regulating behavior and facilitating trust and cohesion in the relationship.

Relationship research has shown that there are implicit and explicit rules in romantic relationships as well as a hierarchy of boundaries, where some boundaries are given more importance. For example, research participants generally report infidelity as a more serious boundary violation, whereas not respecting a boundary related to time spent on hobbies was less serious.

Signs that setting or changing boundaries in your relationship would be helpful include:

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