Self-expansion in a Relationship

Arthur Aron is a Research Professor of Psychology at Stony Brook University. His research focuses on identifying interpersonal closeness on how self-expansion motivations relate to and can be used to alleviate the decline in relationship satisfaction over time. His diverse methods include representative surveys, lab studies, and brain imaging. Arthur earned a PhD in psychology from the University of Toronto and is actively involved in research collaborations with his wife, Elaine Aron.

In this episode…

What factors are most influential in boosting your relationship and intimacy with your partner? Is it possible to create and maintain a meaningful, fulfilling, and successful relationship?

According to Arthur Aron, a romance does not need to be an overpowering force of passion like Romeo and Juliet — but built on values of trust, loyalty, and emotions of deeper connections. When you become comfortable with your partner, sometimes the connection becomes blurred, which is why Arthur recommends finding ways to keep the excitement alive for a happier, healthier, and long-lasting relationship. His research on human relationships focuses on the interpersonal closeness found by self-expanding activities done with your partner.

In this episode of Our.Love Podcast, Jim Coan sits down with Arthur Aron, Research Professor of Psychology at Stony Brook University, to explain the self-expansion model of forging interpersonal relationships. Arthur discusses self-expanding activities for strengthening relationship bonds, how to measure and improve satisfaction in a relationship, and his research behind his "36 Questions That Lead To Love" model.