Valentine's Day is traditionally seen as a celebration of love and intimacy. But American psychologist Mark Travers warns that some common practices on February 14 can, on the contrary, weaken the emotional bond between partners. His recommendations are based on psychological observations and published in Forbes.
According to Travers, the pressure of social expectations and the desire to celebrate Valentine's Day 'perfectly' can lead couples to play roles instead of experiencing genuine intimacy. The expert highlights four common habits to avoid in order to maintain the sincerity of relationships.
1. Pretend Gestures Instead of Presence
Public declarations, staged surprises for social media, or excessive romantic scenarios often create the effect of a performance rather than real communication. This creates an illusion of perfection but does not strengthen the emotional bond.
2. Turning the Holiday into a 'Relationship Status Report'
Evaluating feelings, testing the seriousness of intentions, or comparing to past years turns Valentine's Day from a shared experience into a stressful exam, which can increase the distance between partners.
3. Attempts to Be 'Endlessly Grateful'
Mandatory expressions of gratitude, even when feelings do not meet expectations, can lead to the suppression of genuine emotions. The psychologist emphasizes that healthy relationships include space for honest feelings, not just staged appreciation.
4. 'Prescription' Romance
Strictly following templates — 'what a man should do', 'what gifts should be given', or 'how the evening should go' — can also be harmful. Scripted romance removes the space for novelty and individual expression of feelings, making the holiday monotonous.
Psychologists note that genuine intimacy arises where there is emotional safety and attention to each other, rather than where external norms or holiday standards are adhered to.
...Valentine's Day can become a time of true closeness and joy if couples focus on real communication rather than rituals and societal expectations. Rejecting staged romance, relationship evaluations, and forced displays of feelings helps create a more honest and trusting experience.
