Guilt
Your partner wants to go get ice cream, but you would rather get water ice. They seem a little down/unenthusiastic, but they agree to get water ice with you. You tell them that next time, you two will get ice cream, which cheers them up. Is this an unhealthy dynamic or not? Explain why.
It is not unhealthy -- mutual compromise is a natural and healthy part of any decent relationship.
You and your partner get into a fight over something trivial. They say they need some time to cool off, but it's been a week and they're still giving you the silent treatment. You feel like you're being punished.
Is this unhealthy or healthy?
Unhealthy -- ignoring your partner for extended periods of time in order to purposefully make them feel bad is toxic.
You see your crush laughing at someone else's joke. You feel a little jealous because you want to make them laugh like that, but you push the thought away and move on.
A little bit of jealousy is normal and healthy. It's only when we act on it to get what we want that it becomes toxic.
You want to hang out with some friends you haven't had the time to see. Your partner hears of you making plans and says they've heard those friends talking badly about you and that you should just spend the day with them.
Bad-mouthing your friends or making up drama so you don't see them and only spend time with your partner is toxic.
Whenever your partner is around their friends, they always make jokes at your expense and put you down. When you confront them about it, they say that's just how that friend group's sense of humor is and to not be such a baby about it. You never see them make fun of their other friends in that group, only you.
Unhealthy -- putting your partner down in order to get a quick laugh is toxic.
You miss your partner's soccer game for the second time in a row -- you really mean to go to them, but you've been so busy studying for finals. Your partner tells you that they feel like you don't love them anymore.
Unhealthy -- while it is normal to want your partner involved in your life, needing to be with them 24/7 and guilting them for having their own life is toxic.
After a fight with your partner, their friends start ignoring you. It hurts because you two have some mutual friends. One of your former friends comes forward and says your partner told everyone you abused them, and that's why everyone is so cold towards you.
Unhealthy -- spreading dangerous and hurtful lies about your partner in order to turn friends against them is deeply toxic.
Your partner comes over as you're joking with your best friend. When your friend leaves, your partner says they don't trust them to be around you because they think your friend 'likes' you. Healthy or unhealthy?
Unhealthy -- you should trust your partner to do the right thing when you're not around until they've proven that they can't. You shouldn't discourage your partner from having other relationships so long as those friendships are also healthy.
No, this is not normal. While healthy couples can and do fight, emotional manipulation and abuse are not aspects of a healthy relationship.
You always seem to be slipping up in your partner's eyes. Whenever you joke around or do something they particularly don't like, they usually hit or slap you. It's not super hard, and you can take it. Messing around is normal, right?
If your partner is using physical aggression to punish you for mundane things, then it is an abusive relationship.
Your partner cheats on you and says they wouldn't have 'needed to' if you had been a better partner. Then they start listing all of your 'flaws' that contributed to their cheating.
Deflecting blame and guilt-tripping is always unhealthy. If your partner cares about you they'll take responsibility for their actions.
You feel lonely and bored on a Saturday night. Your partner promises to come over after they get off their shift. What is an unhealthy response?
1) Ok, see you soon! :)
2) Dw, I know it'll be late when you get off work. See you tomorrow?
3) I feel like you prioritize everything else above me.
One of your friends is upset that you've been spending more time with another friend. You tell them that the other friend has been going through a tough time and that you didn't mean to not see them so often. You offer to hang out soon, and your friend happily agrees. Healthy or unhealthy?
It is normal to be upset or jealous when your friends are hanging out with other people more for seemingly no reason -- ask before you jump to any conclusions.
You've been feeling badly about your relationship and decide its time to break up. When you bring this up to your partner, they threaten to hurt themself if you leave them. What would you do in this situation?
1) Call the police and their parents
2) Get back together with them
3) Screenshot the text and make a meme
You notice your friend has not really been themself lately. They seem tired and you've notice them wearing more baggy clothing. Once while walking together, you caught a glimpse of some serious bruises. For the past few months they've been talking about this person they're dating, and you have an unsettling feeling about it. What should you do?
1) Reach out to a trusted adult, then talk to your friend together
2) Confront your friend by yourself
3) Confront your friend's partner