Compromise Isn’t All it’s Cracked Up to Be

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It’s not uncommon for us to hear that compromise is key in relationships, but research is starting to demonstrate that compromise isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Instead, researchers are recommending that both parties in a relationship adopt negotiation strategies, which ensures that both parties walk away with a favorable outcome. For example, doing the dishes is something that my husband and I despise. When we first moved in together, this was one of our first discussions. Neither of us wanted to do the dishes, yet had we compromised, we likely would have split the chore 50/50. However, we ended up negotiating. I would do the cooking (another thing he hated but I love) if he did the dishes (something we both hate), and I would do the laundry (something we both hate) if he mowed the lawn (something I hate but he loves). Using negotiation strategies, we were able to both end up getting something we loved in exchange for giving something we didn’t love so much.