Never is the concept of personal needs and wants more relevant than when it comes to understanding the main differences between men and women and their relationship. Essentially, both women and men have the same underlying needs: to be loved, to be acknowledged, and to have a real purpose regarding the relationship. But, it’s the way women and men go about getting those particular needs fulfilled is where the differences emerge.
Here are five key differences between men and women when it comes to relationships:
1. The need to be acknowledged.
After a a bad day at work, most men want their wife or girlfriend to see that they’re upset and ask if they’re okay, and then move on, as opposed to encouraging them to process their feelings even further. On the other hand, women are usually more expressive than men, both emotionally and verbally. Therefore, when most women experience a bad day, often they need to come home and discuss it in detail with their husband or boyfriend.
The burning desire to be acknowledged is inside each and every one of us, and is extremely important in any relationship. If a person doesn’t feel acknowledged or that they matter, they may eventually become withdrawn and angry, which in some cases can lead to seeking acknowledgement elsewhere—it’s called cheating.
2. The need to have a solid purpose within the relationship.
Ideally, both the man and the woman in a relationship could equally share each important aspect of their connection. In reality, though, one partner is naturally more of a financial provider, nurturer, social planner, etc. than the other. In order for two people to be happy in a relationship, both partners need to feel a sense of purpose. Each must trust that they’re a part of a functioning relationship and are greatly appreciated by their partner. When women or men do not feel needed or have a clear sense of what their role is in the relationship, they may eventually feel defeated, and generally unhappy.
3. Everyone needs to be loved.
Everyone has the same fundamental need to be cared for and loved, although women and men tend to show their love in different ways. For instance, most men don’t tend to talk about their feelings for their partner, while many women express their feelings of love much more openly. However, women need to understand that men generally feel comfortable showing their love through actions rather than words. A man often tells himself that he’s showing his significant other his love by taking her on a trip, going out for a romantic dinner, buying her a special gift, or simply having mind-blowing sex.
4. Women are usually more personal and expressive than men.
Most women have a deep interest in people and building relationships, while most men are usually more worried about the practical side of life. Men’s values are more oriented around challenging, conquering, and competing for dominance, which is why they have a strong interest in competitive sports like football, basketball, and baseball.
5. Women have a stronger desire to build intimate relationships than men.
Ever notice how it’s women who mostly tend to read articles about relationships? That’s because they’re the ones who have a natural interest in developing close, intimate relationships. If a man realizes that his spouse is more inclined to nurture the relationship, he’ll relax and focus more on developing a better marriage, as well as maintaining his relationship with his kids.
In the end, women and men have more things in common than differences in general, which is why a great number of relationships are very happy and tend to last for decades. If both men and women are aware of what makes their specific gender unique, the stronger and more resilient their connection will become.
