Definition and Attraction

The Couple as Project and Bonding

From the cognitive behavioral approach, the couple is not defined simply as two people who are together, but as a complex structure.

It is understood as a relationship between two individuals united by a significant affective bond.

This union is not static; it is motivated by three drivers: mutual attraction, expectations of what can be built together and commitments made.

The distinctive element is that, through living together, both share a joint life project.

This project is not abstract, but manifests itself in the daily management of social spaces, interaction with families of origin and the construction of an exclusive space of intimacy.

It is a free and voluntary choice to share existence under specific agreements.

The Sphere of Attraction and its Components

Attraction is the gravitational force of the relationship. It is defined as the need, the impulse and the action of approaching the other person because their presence generates well-being and positive emotions.

It is not just "liking," but an active search for proximity based on the attributes of the other. To eva luate this sphere, we analyzed four interconnected variables:

Physical: The aesthetic response and sexual desire toward the other's appearance.

Intellectual: The admiration for how he/she thinks, his/her conversation, moral values or knowledge.

Emotional: The attraction to how the person manages his or her feelings (e.g. security, tenderness, temperament).

Behavioral: The liking for how the person acts and behaves (details, manners, way of moving).

A healthy relationship usually requires a combination of these variables, although the weight of each may vary depending on the stage of the relationship.

Summary

The couple is define