From Sheri & Bob Stritof,
Your Guide to Marriage.
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Did you realize that even minor irritating behaviors can possibly make you allergic to your spouse's annoying habits?

Research Study on Social Allergies in Romantic Relationships

A U.S. government National Institute of Child Health and Development grant (HD042245-01A2) funded a research study of more than 160 relationships at Louisville University. The study has revealed that the more times your spouse irks you by repeating disgusting and uncouth habits, the more irked you become.

According to an article in the UK Sunday times by Roger Dobson and Lois Rogers, the report, "Social Allergies in Romantic Relationships: Behavioral Repetition, Emotional Sensitization, and Dissatisfaction in Dating Couples", set out to show the link between "nasty habits and nasty divorce."

Deromanticisation

These results really shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone who has been married. Most spouses view nasty habits as a lack of respect and can lead to lack of romance in a marriage. Some folks refer to this behavior in a marriage as "deromanticisation."

The research also reported that men generally violated more behavior norms and were more uncouth than women, but that women appeared to be more inconsiderate and intrusive than men.

“The basic notion that things become more irksome over time is something that has never been looked at before. Relatively minor unpleasant behaviours appear to affect a partner’s emotions in a way that resembles how physical allergens function. The first experience is likely to produce a small negative reaction, but repeated contact increases sensitivity."

“Wet towels on the bathroom floor cause mild irritation. But the reaction gets stronger each time it happens. Through repeated exposure it may produce a social allergy — a reaction of hypersensitive annoyance or disgust.”

Source Information About the Study

Michael R. Cunningham, Stephen R. Shamblen, Anita P. Barbee, and Lara K. Ault
"Social allergies in romantic relationships: Behavioral repetition, emotional sensitization, and dissatisfaction in dating couples."
University of Louisville; Holy Family University
Personal Relationships, Vol. 12, No. 2. (June 2005), pp. 273-295.

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