If I feel like I want my partner to respond consistently in the same way to my affectionate behavior, but I also want my partner to surprise me occasionally with different signs of his/her affection, I am experiencing which dialectical tension?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The dialectical tension being experienced is the desire for both change and predictability. The individual wants their partner to respond consistently to their affectionate behavior but also wants to be surprised by different signs of affection. This tension between the desire for stability and the desire for novelty is referred to as the change/predictability dialectic.

If I Feel Like I Want My Partner to Respond