The Authentic Relationship

Links for 2011-10-12 [Digg]

2011-10-13T00:00:00-07:00

Body Image Survey
The purpose of this study is to examine the influence of family relationships and identity on the body image of women in Black Greek Letter Organizations. To be eligible to take part in this study, the only requirement is that the participant is a female member of a BGLO. The entire study should take approximately 10-15 minutes to complete. Participation in this study is voluntary and all information will remain confidential. I would like to assure you that the protocol for this study has been reviewed and approved by the East Carolina University Office for Human Research Integrity (OHRI) UMCIRB# 11-0373. As a thank you, participants who complete the survey can enter into a drawing to receive one of one hundred $10 gift cards. This option is available via a link at the end of the survey.

Sex on the First Date, Taboo or To Do?

2011-07-22T10:30:00.057-04:00

Although dating rules have changed tremendously over the years, most people have steadfast opinions about sex on the first date. Regarding first date sexual activity, the common theme appears gender specific. Women should be ashamed of their easy and immoral ways while men are expected to "seal the deal" and celebrate their conquest. Most of my female friends agree that sex on the first date

Self-esteem: Not Just A Woman's Problem

2011-07-20T09:00:00.000-04:00

Researchers have found that both women and men have similar levels of self-esteem during adolescence and young adulthood. Instead of gender as a factor, differences in self-esteem are found when comparing people of different racial/ethnic categories. The result of this research has many implications for parents, teachers, and clinicians who have historically attributed lower self-esteem to

Should Contemporary Women Play Hard To Get?

2011-07-18T11:18:00.000-04:00

Throughout time women have been told to play hard to get. Our mothers, sisters, aunts, and girlfriends insist that men should be the aggressor. Even the men in our lives agree, sharing stories about their disapproval of aggressive women. Playing hard to get has worked for generations, but does the same ring true today? Contemporary men report that they like when women are aggressive.

10 Ways To Keep Your Relationship Healthy

2011-07-17T15:01:00.000-04:00

What are the things needed to keep your relationship healthy? Most people would answer that question with the big four: Trust, fidelity, communication, and conflict resolution. While these are needed in order to have a successful relationship, there are many others that should be considered. These, in conjunction with the big four, will increase your relationship satisfaction. I recently

The Rules of "Friends With Benefits"

2011-07-14T10:20:00.001-04:00

While I am eagerly awaiting the release of Justin Timberlake's (I LOVE him btw!) new movie "Friends With Benefits", I wonder whether or not men and women are capable of maintaining such relationships. Romantic comedies try to convince us that friends with benefits (FWB) will eventually fall in love and live happily ever after. Although they may go through some bumps along the way, they express

Can You Love Someone Else Without Loving Yourself First?

2011-07-12T12:35:00.000-04:00

I ran across an article in which the author argued that you do not have to love yourself in order to love someone else. He states that for some, self-loathing has no bearing on the ability to love another. Check out the article here.

I Can Forgive, But I Won't Forget...

2011-07-06T12:00:00.001-04:00

I heard this statement during a conversation with a family member after hearing a sermon on forgiveness. My pastor spoke on its true meaning and stated that in order to be forgiven for our sins, we must forgive the sins of others. The concept is simple enough, but the action proves to be one of the most difficult tasks faced in a relationship. Disappointment and heartache encountered in

Reasons Why Women Are Unfaithful

2011-07-04T20:58:00.000-04:00

According to a recent article, while there are many reasons women are unfaithful, they are more likely to stray when there is no passion left in their relationship. The article goes on to list 6 other things women report as the reasons why they had affairs. For the record, I disagree with all of them. Just like men, women are unfaithful for TWO reasons: 1. They desire to be with someone

Are You Dating A Mr. Right Now?

2011-06-27T17:27:00.002-04:00

In a previous post, I discussed the phenomenon of women dating Mr. Right Now instead of waiting for Mr. Right. But I realize that many women do not know the difference. Although it is not an exact science and ALL of these may not apply, here is my take on the differences between the two men. Mr. Right Now: He does not want a relationship with you Your friends and/or family question why you are

Mr. Right vs. Mr. Right Now...Is It Worth The Wait?

2011-06-27T17:17:00.001-04:00

In our current dating culture where hook-ups are widespread and customary, both young and seasoned daters alike enter into relationships which lack clear definitions, expectations, and rules. Despite being biologically and socially wired to seek commitment and exclusivity, many women often settle for the status quo. They sustain relationships with men waiting to see if something casual will turn

Summer Dating Tips for Ladies

2011-06-27T09:07:00.003-04:00

After much anticipation, summer is here. It's the time that some take much-needed vacations or have extra time to spend with kids who are out of school. The weather is great and people venture outside to partake of barbecues, beaches, amusement parks, etc. But this can also be a great time for single ladies to meet new dating prospects! If you are up to adding a little spice to your summer

Seniors Find Love Online

2011-06-24T12:52:00.001-04:00

Proving that it is never too late to find true love, 90-year-old Molly Holder recently wed a younger 82-year-old Ed Nisbett after meeting on the popular Match.com dating website. Although ready to meet her Prince Charming, Molly was cautious and played it safe. She asked her 41-year-old grandson to chaperone her first date. And the rest is history. Read more about the two love birds here:

Links for 2011-06-23 [Digg]

2011-06-24T00:00:00-07:00

Most Women Won't Marry an Unemployed Man
Men, take some advice from ForbesWoman and YourTango.com. If you want to find Mrs. Right, don't bother looking until you have a job. It's harsh, but seventy-five percent of women surveyed by ForbesWoman and YourTango said they would not marry a man who was unemployed.
6 Women You Should NOT Date
A plethora of information exists telling women which men they should avoid. But relationship-minded men are often left out in the cold with regard to undesirable women. For men in the dating market, the following women might be better left alone.

Are You Kidding Me? Mom allows 51-year-old actor to marry her 16-year-old daughter

2011-06-23T18:22:00.001-04:00

Doug Hutchinson, 51-year-old star of "Lost" and "The Green Mile" recently wed 16-year-old Courtney Stodden. Although Courtney was too young to legally marry Doug, she did so with her mother's parental consent. Marriages with extreme age differences have existed throughout history. Men in the Bible had young wives, kings and queens married at 12 and 13, and it was not uncommon for a landowner

Would You Let Your Teen Have Sex In Your Home?

2011-06-22T13:01:00.001-04:00

Some parents insist that it is "safer" for teens to have sex at home rather than in the "unsafe" environments of cars, hotels, etc. These parents are more comfortable when their teen(s) explore sexuality in a controlled environment where they as parents can intervene. On the contrary, many teens (namely girls) report this freedom may

Are You Kidding Me? Phone Apps That Help You Cheat

2010-12-14T21:11:00.001-05:00

As if smart phones didn't make it easy enough to hide things, now creators of phone applications are making sneaky behavior much easier. Many apps make it virtually (no pun intended) impossible for others to know what we are doing with our phones. Some apps connect you to potential cheating partners, others hide your interactions with "secret" people and will destroy any incriminating evidence

Is it Time to Break Your Bad Relationship Habits?

2010-11-20T10:00:00.001-05:00

Are your quirky behaviors not so cute anymore? Do your interactions with your partner need some adjusting? How would you know? The following article examines some relationship habits (that many of us fall victim to) which should be abandoned. Read more here

Women, Use Your Power to Uplift Each Other!

2010-11-19T18:10:00.000-05:00

A recent conversation with my mom encouraged me to do my part in uplifting other women. We were discussing the most recent result of her own journey to uplift other women, where she saw the fruits of her labor. About a week ago, she gave a very sincere compliment to a close friend. My mother remarked at how good her friend looked in a certain pair of jeans and suggested they should be worn more

People You Should "UN-Friend" On Facebook

2010-10-29T13:36:00.002-04:00

Facebook has become a great forum for people to socialize, share daily events, and express their views. As such, we forget that the company we keep, even in cyberspace, becomes a direct reflection of who we are. Friends, family members, current and future employers, and strangers judge us (whether fair or not) based on information posted on our facebook page. Therefore, many us may need

How Fast Do We Fall In Love?

2010-10-28T18:32:00.001-04:00

Researchers at Syracuse University report that it only takes a fifth of a second for our brain to "fall in love". During this process, our brains experience emotions similar to those felt when using cocaine or other stimulants. These researchers also found that of the 12 areas of the brain that are stimulated, each one responds to different kinds of love. Studying how these areas are stimulated

Links for 2010-10-27 [Digg]

2010-10-28T00:00:00-07:00

Men you SHOULD NOT date
Ever wonder why some people have better luck in the dating game than others? It is because they know what type of person to avoid. If you encounter these guys out on the scene, RUN!

Was That A Hook-Up?

2010-10-25T12:49:00.001-04:00

Hooking up has become a contemporary term used by adolescents and young adults to describe a number of different intimate activities. But what does it really mean to "hook-up"? And how do you know if you just "hooked-up" with someone? A "hook-up" can refer to any number of activities ranging from kissing and light touching to oral or genital contact including sexual intercourse. The

Links for 2010-10-23 [Digg]

2010-10-24T00:00:00-07:00

Premarital sex leads to infidelity
Does having multiple partners before marriage increase the chances that you will have an affair once you are married?

Waiting for Superdad...

2010-10-23T13:53:00.115-04:00

SUPERDAD Recently, I gave my class an assignment to discuss some of the gender inequalities that exist in parent responsibility. We watched media examples and discussed the plight of Supermom - a woman who does it all...working full-time, then coming home to respond to the needs of the entire household. As I added questions to our class discussion board, I noticed that the word "Superdad" (

People Lie on their Online Dating Profiles?!?

2010-10-23T13:18:00.002-04:00

Check out this story on how many people lie on online profiles and what they are lying about. Pretty interesting... Book of Odds - Here's a Shocker: People Lie on their Online Dating Profiles

Does Premarital Sex Increase Risk for Extramarital Sex?

2010-10-22T21:53:00.000-04:00

Research suggests that contemporary Americans are growing more and more accepting of premarital sex. As social mores around sex become more relaxed, people view premarital sex as part of the dating process. Even the most conservative, while not in full agreement, have become accustomed to the notion that sex occurs before marriage for the majority of the population. Although chastity belts may

Relationship Safety Schools

2010-09-07T19:15:00.000-04:00

Many people who attended college started the application process with at least three schools in mind: Number 1 = The school we REALLY wanted to attend Whether it was the alma mater of family or friends, the one with the best reputation for sports, or the one that could catapult us into our career of choice, this school was number one. In our minds, this was the ultimate college experience which

Woman Found Dead In Ex- Boyfriends Chimney

2010-09-02T18:49:00.000-04:00

The following story is one of the main reasons that I write this blog. I am hoping to impart information and discussion that may keep people from making decisions such as this. Apparently, Dr. Jacqueline Kotarac in an attempt to gain access into her ex-boyfriends house, climbed down his chimney. At some point she became stuck there and died. Making matters worse, her ex allegedly fled the

Links for 2010-07-06 [Digg]

2010-07-07T00:00:00-07:00

The Color Red Influences Men's Perception of Attractiveness
In 2008, the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology published a study entitled Romantic Red: Red Enhances Men's Attraction to Women. The study, conducted by Andrew Elliot and Daniela Niesta of the University of Rochester, found that the color red influenced men's perception of attractiveness.

Links for 2010-07-04 [Digg]

2010-07-05T00:00:00-07:00

Stimulate Your Baby's Mind And Body With Baby Gym Toys
Baby gyms are also geared up with toys with audio capabilities. For those toys with such options, guarantee that they are simple to listen to, not too loud, but not too silent. Music and comfortable spoken words are brilliant on your child’s mind improvement in addition to vocabulary.
The Authentic Relationship: Family Dinners
Discover the benefits of eating dinner together as a family. It could save you time, money, and future troubles...