Decision and Commitment in Love

Definition

Commitment represents the motivation to stay in a relationship and to work at it. It is not surprising that we stay in relationships while they are highly satisfying, but why stay in a relationship that has not been satisfying lately? People may choose to persevere when things get difficult because they have invested a great deal, they have poor alternatives, or they wish to stay true to their personal values (“I made a pledge to stick with this”). Furthermore, a relationship can, over time, become a big part of “who I am,” and therefore it is not something that is easily discarded.

The decision to commit and work through shortterm periods of boredom or distress will allow people to potentially reap the benefits of a loving, ...