What Romantic Comedies Don’t Tell You About Relationships

Last Update:10 November 2024 11:52 IST

While romantic comedies can be fun, they can encourage unrealistic expectations about relationships that we need to rethink.

Movies often portray love as a sudden and instantaneous connection, which leads to unrealistic expectations. (In the frame: Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol on the Karwa Chauth stage at DDLJ. (Submitted by: YRF)

Romantic comedies or rom-coms are loved by many people for their heart-warming stories and happy endings, but they often show an unrealistic side of relationships. These movies focus on the excitement of love but rarely show the difficulties and time it takes to make relationships work. In their podcast, psychologists Eli Finkel and Paul Eastwick explore how romantic comedies shape our ideas about love. They look at how some movies create both positive and unrealistic expectations about love. While romantic comedies can be fun, they can encourage unrealistic expectations about relationships that we need to rethink.

Irene Schreiner, licensed marriage and family therapist and owner of Solid Foundations Therapy, said during a conversation with Business Insider: “They (romantic comedies) just highlight the early stage of a relationship where we’re really obsessed with our partners and not just obsessed with our partner well. Very much.” “They cover a short period of time and often don’t address the real obstacles couples actually face in relationships.”

Let’s understand a few points where real relationships differ from those shown in romantic comedies:

1. In most movies we see characters fall in love on the first or second date, but in reality it can take time, maybe weeks or months, to develop feelings for someone. We can’t rush love or skip important steps. Instead we should enjoy the journey and let the love grow naturally. If we slow down and appreciate the journey, we can understand each other better and build a stronger bond.
2. A strong relationship is built on common values ​​and interests. In movies, people often have a magical first date, but in real life, a relationship is built on deeper connections, not just chemistry. It’s better to be single than to be with someone who doesn’t support your goals or wants you to change just to make them happy.
3. In romantic comedies, we often see couples complimenting each other by giving gifts and making grand gestures. However, healthy relationships are based on compromise, understanding and healthy communication. It is important to acknowledge our partners’ flaws and work together to overcome challenges.
4. Good communication is a must for every relationship. We must be honest with our partner and express our feelings with an open mind, without thinking about future consequences. In romantic comedies, characters are brought together by fate and can live happily ever after, but relationships require effort.
5. Movies often portray love as a sudden and instantaneous connection, which leads to unrealistic expectations. Relationships in real life don’t always start instantly, which can lead to disappointment when influenced by romantic comedies. Finally, we must not forget that real life is much more complex than the world of cinema. Even though we try to add some magic to our love lives, we must remember that there can be not-so-happy endings.