TRUE.com's Dr. Jim Houran Compares Celebrity Passions of Tom and Katie, Paris
and Paris, Brad and Angelina, and Offers Advice for the Average Joes and Janes
DALLAS, June 20 /PRNewswire/ -- By in large, love is love no matter who
cupid's arrow strikes, however, new research from leading online relationship
service TRUE(TM) reveals surprising lessons we can learn from celebrity
relationships like the recent engagement of Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood,
the engagement between "TomKat," Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes, and even the
reported relationship between Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt.
TRUE.com's ongoing research into the psychology of celebrity love and
compatibility is useful to help us see celebrity relationships as not only
entertainment, but rather educational case studies that can help us increase
our chances of succeeding in "Average Joe" relationships. Through the
expertise of TRUE's Chief Psychologist, Dr. Jim Houran, an internationally
recognized expert on the psychology of romance, compatibility, and celebrity
worship, TRUE.com embarked on a qualitative study where Houran looked at a
sample of 30 Hollywood couples from the Golden Age through today. The study's
purpose was to explore compatibility and relationship challenges that may
distinguish celebrity couples from everyday couples. Surprisingly, Houran
found that celebrity couples are similar to us, but the compatibility
challenges all couples face tend to be significantly magnified in Hollywood
couples due to their celebrity status.
Dr. Houran found five key lessons that Joe T. Average can learn from
celebrity couples:
* Less Dependency: Celebrity couples typically have abundant sources of
income and access to the things they need to survive with little or no
help needed from anyone else -- including the other partner. Pooling
money is typically not a high priority. Lesson Number 5:
Understanding and openly communicating your emotional, physical and
financial vulnerabilities and give-and-takes in relationships can help
alleviate problems in the future.
* Time Apart: While free time in dating relationships can be a good
thing, celebrities in dating relationships with busy music,
television, or movie production schedules can spend weeks or even
months apart. For everyday couples, this could be an intolerable
circumstance that would end most pairings. Lesson Number 4:
Acknowledge your need for space while recognizing that your partner
may have different expectations for the amount of time you spend
together.
* Privacy: Most couples have their share of nosy friends, well-meaning
in-laws, curious neighbors and third wheels that just won't hit the
road! Celebrities are constantly fighting the glare of camera
flashes, stargazers and crazed fans. Any lovers' spat, bad day or
public display of affection becomes headline news. Lesson Number 3:
Everyday couples can go for months or may choose to never reveal
misunderstandings or arguments to family and friends. Be thankful
that private matters can easily remain behind closed doors, but use
those quiet moments to air any dirty laundry.
* Identity: Is the sum of the two parts really always greater than the
whole? Celebrity pairings don't always elevate each star. One
celebrity's status may be less than that of the other, which could
cause jealousy to form between two lovers. In some cases, the pairing
could have a negative impact on an icon's career. Lesson Number 2:
Singles involved in everyday relationships should acknowledge that you
both bring unique contributions to the pairing.
* Competition for affection and loyalty: Equal popularity sounds like
balance, but instead it can instill unspoken or even unconscious
feelings of competition and resentment. Two popular people are in
natural conflict with each other. Lesson Number 1: TRUE's Celebrity
Relationship Study(TM) and recent TRUE "U" article on celebrity
breakups described competition for affection as one of the leading
factors contributing to celebrity splits. Take note and generously
offer your affections to your partner.
These lessons ring true to the media covering the lives of celebrities.
As stated in a recent article by Eunnie Park of The Record, "normal couples
have nosy parents; celebrity couples have a stampede of paparazzi and rabid
fans. Normal couples have misunderstandings; celebrity couples have the cover
of [a tabloid] magazine. Normal people discuss their relationship with
friends and family; celebrities have to issue statements confirming or denying
reports."
Houran reminds us that, like the popular press, we all have a tendency to
do a bit of stargazing. "A bit of celebrity obsession can be healthy in this
instance," Houran emphasized. "Celebrity couples can teach us what to do and
what not to do in relationships. 'Average Joe' couples and singles can use
celebrity relationships as conversation guides to create a dialogue for
discussing their own compatibility issues."
To this end, for singles wanting to better equip themselves with tools to
build improved, more satisfying relationships, TRUE offers the industry's only
scientifically published TRUE Compatibility Test(TM) to help singles identify
some of these issues before they encounter heartache. "The test was created
to give singles an objective assessment of themselves, and a partner, and
discover potential challenges to compatibility that celebrity couples showcase
so well," Houran noted.
Dr. Jim Houran makes himself personally available to apply the TRUE
Compatibility Test(TM) to celebrity relations as well as everyday
relationships. Just visit http://www.true.com/search.htm to take the test.
About TRUE
TRUE is safer, savvy, and the only scientifically-based, online
relationship service whose mission is to help singles find long-lasting and
fulfilling relationships. Founded on an advanced, scientific compatibility
test uniquely endorsed by Psychology Today and independently certified by one
of the leading experts in tests and measurements -- Integrated Knowledge
Systems, Inc. -- to meet the Standards for Educational and Psychological
Testing, TRUE is the only online relationship service that actively seeks to
further protect the safety of its communicating members by conducting
extensive criminal background screenings. Moreover, TRUE is the only site to
conduct single verification screening. With the help of proprietary research
and the industry's most extensive team of scientists, relationship experts and
psychologists, TRUE also guides its members step-by-step through all stages of
the relationship-building process.
To find out more about how TRUE helps people around the world Live, Love
and Learn(TM), please visit http://www.true.com . Press contact: Taylor L.
Cole, APR at 972.402.4813 or taylor.cole@true.com .
SOURCE TRUE
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Related links:
http://www.true.com
http://www.true.com/search.htm
Company News On-Call:
http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/919610.html
CONTACT:
Taylor L. Cole, APR of TRUE, +1-972-402-4813,
or Taylor.Cole@true.com
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