Abstract
Relationships are the basis of human life that determines the emotional health and quality of life.
In the contemporary education, the cause of relationships has exacerbated due to the high social change, the emergence of varying culture demands, and financial and emotional stress factors.Although the Western scenario stresses on individualism, independence, and the importance of the dating culture, Pakistani societies are based on collectivism, family participation, and cultural
customs. The dynamics place additional special problems to the couples and families. The
following paper describes relationship problems in both scenarios, but specifically Pakistani
difficulties include the financial pressure, in-laws, and the traditional gender roles. The paper
discusses the effects of relationship conflicts on the mental given as well as the significance of
family therapy and effectiveness of couples therapy. Lastly, it discusses stigma of therapy and
the need of increased understanding and acceptance in the society.
Keywords: relations, therapy of relations of couples, therapy of relations in families, Pakistan,
Western context, mental health.
Introduction
Relationships play an important role in human life. They offer emotional sense of belonging,
company, and friends. Nevertheless, in contemporary society, it has become even more
complicated to have healthy relationships. It is due to globalization, social media, the economic
situation, and cultural changes that the dynamics of interactions between people, dating and
marriage, and solving conflicts are taking new shapes.
In the Western world, relations may be subject to individualism, choice and satisfaction of
emotions. In contrast, Pakistani society views relationships–especially marriage–not just as a
union between two individuals, but as the merging of two families. Both contexts bring unique
challenges. There are the commitment problem, the divorce levels, and the evolving gender
aspects in the western world, whereas the conflicts experienced in Pakistan are connected with
joint family systems, financial pressure, traditional values, and therapy stigma.
The paper examines relationship problems and contemporary dilemmas under both settings and
applies more the Pakistani side aspect. It shows the effect of the conflict in relationships on
mental health, the influence of family therapy, and the necessity of a couples therapy as a
prevention and a healing process.
Transformational Dynamics in Relationships of the Modern World
Western Context
The relationship is in the Western societies that have dramatically changed in the past few
decades. Marriage cease to be a social order requirement. Living in-toxicably has turned into the
new reality, as dating apps have become a predominant element in finding a partner (Rosenfeld
et al., 2019). Although these transformations have made people have more freedom, new
problems have been introduced.
Commitment phobia- the fear of long term commitment is one of the most problematic problems.
This may be caused by placing more emphasis on self-interests, such as career growth, and not
getting married, or by being too worried about the possibility of divorce, which is at a relatively
high level in most Western countries (Amato, 2017). Also, economic issues like student loans,
and the increased cost of living tend to postpone an earlier marriage or cause marital stress.
Pakistani Context
Cultural and religious influences are fundamental in the type of relationships that are built in
Pakistan. Marriage is regarded as a social responsibility and the involvement of family in the
decision-making terms as normal. Marriages in most of the instances are family arranged and in
most instances the family compatibility equals to individual preferences.
This cultural structure is rather stable, though, it poses challenges. The couples come under a lot
of pressure to conform to the traditional gender roles as males are practically breadwinners
where females are expected to concentrate more on the duties of keeping the house. Furthermore,
the family unity system more frequently results in disagreements between spouses, and in-laws,
so it is hard to build boundaries. This great insistence on perceptions of the society–what will
they say?–causes a lot of time one eye to avoid going into conflict scenarios.
Common Relationship Issues in Pakistani Society
The Pakistani couples have a couple of distinct crises that option them in the quality of their
relations.
1. Language: Lots of couples find it very hard to air emotions. Silence, avoidance, or
indirect communication often lead to misunderstandings.
2. Financial Stress: Money is a frequent result of conflict, as unemployment is high, and so
is the rate of inflation and expectations by some cultures that men financially take care of their
families.
3. In-Law conflicts: Joint-families are characteristic of the situation whereby couples are
subject to parental and sibling pressure thus resulting to conflict over independence, decisions
and boundaries.
4. Fixed Gender скоро:.Message that must not make men vulnerable and that women must
never compromise produces imbalances and resentments.
5. Trust and Infidelity: Greater access and availability to social media has brought with it
jealousy, lack of trust and instances of emotional or physical infidelity.
6. Emotional Neglect: A large number of couples overlook the emotional needs of their
partners which in turn creates the feeling of loneliness even though they manage to be in a
relationship.
These problems do not only exist within the marriage relationship but also in the family systems
where intergenerational conflicts also add more discomfort.
Impact of Relationship Conflicts on Mental Health
Mental health is extremely affected by unresolved relationship conflicts.
• Depression and Anxiety: Persistent arguments, dirtying/ignoring and not offering
support may cause symptoms of depression and increased anxiety.
•Stress: Stresses: financial and interpersonal stresses may be expressed in terms of
physical health complications, such as insomnia and headaches.
Children with Mental Health Calgary: It is not uncommon that children who are exposed
to conflict in the home exhibit behavioral problems, poor performance at school, and inability to
establish healthy relationships in the future (Harold and Sellers, 2018).
Self-Esteem Problems: In hostile or neglecting relationships, a person tends to feel
unvalued and thus lacks order in his/her confidence.
In Pakistan mental health is an already overlooked discipline and thus these ills are usually
overlooked until the moment they are critical.
The Role of Family Therapy in Pakistani Context
Family therapy is a process that persuades the issues in the family system as opposed to
individual consideration. It is particularly applicable in Pakistan, given that the structure of
families is highly connected.
•”Boundary Problems: therapy assists the family in healthy boundaries between couples
and extended family members.
• Parenting Conflicts: The ways of parenting in relationships: The couples do not go
along with minor parenting issues, mostly when there are grandparents cornering the parent. In
therapy, a neutral ground is available to solve these problems.
•Decisions: The Family can be taught to make decisions individually without affecting
the autonomy of the individual.
Misconception Associated with Therapy: In Pakistan therapy is considered and believed
to be restricted to only the mad people. Family therapy dispels this myth by detailing therapy as a
means of improved communication and better relations.
Family therapy helps to enhance the strength of the whole household and thus bringing long term
harmony by alleviating them.
Couples Therapy: Why It Matters
One of the most effective methods of dealing with relationship issues includes couples therapy. It
gives couples a space where they can talk comfortably and acquire skills of coping with conflict.
Enhance Communication: Therapists find ways of being active listeners and engaging
people in conversations with respect.
•Conflict Resolution: The couples are taught that disagreements are part and parcel of life
and that they can be solved without third-degree murders.
• Emotional Intelligence: Smart maintenance, through therapy enables partner to learn
and manage their emotions and those of the partner.
• Trust Reconstruction: Occasionally therapy has techniques that can restore trust slowly
in the event of infidelity or betrayal.
• Intimacy.
Couples therapy in Pakistan is also a profession with the special case of balancing cultural
expectations. Couples come to solutions that satisfy religious/cultural values and psycho needs
and the therapists frequently assist in developing such solutions.
Getting Past the Stigma +/- Therapy.
The stigma about therapy is one of the greatest hindrances in Pakistan. Most of the individuals
regard going to a therapeutic session as weakness. Some also hold the view that the sound
families do not require external assistance to resolve issues. Such an attitude does not allow
individuals to examine professional help on time.
Fortunately, there are increased awareness. Online therapy provisions, mental health campaigns
and participation of young psychologists are slowly shifting the culture of public minds. Therapy
is also being seen as a proactive relationship health rather than an appointments of last-resort.
Conclusion
Contemporary challenges have a lot of issues in relationships. In the Western world, such aspects
as commitment phobia and high rate divorces prevail, whereas in Pakistan, money problems,
interference of in-laws and strict genetic roles impose certain adversities in their own way. These
spates are disastrous to mental well-being impacting couples, as well as children and extended
families.
Commendable solution comes through family and couples therapy. Therapy enhances
relationships and the health of both mind and body by enhancing communication, imparting
knowledge on how to handle conflict situations and deal with cultural dynamics. The stigma
regarding therapy must be finally deconstructed and it accepted that therapy is an essential
process that will lead to healthier families and society.
References
Amato, P. R. (2017). Patterns, causes, and consequencesDivorce in an era of high family
diversity. Journal of Marriage and Family, 79(2), 448–473. https://doi.org/10.1111/jomf.12374
Harold, G. T., & Sellers, R. (2018). An evidence-based practice focused update: Interparental
conflict and youth psychopathology. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 59(4),
374–402. https://doi.org/10.1111/jcpp.12893
Rosenfeld, M. J., Thomas, R. J., & Hausen, S. (2019). Disintermediating your friends: How
online dating in the United States replaces other means of meeting. Proceedings of the National
Academy of Sciences, 116(36), 17753–17758. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1908630116
