The Date-Rape Drug

Did you know? Gamma hydroxybutyrate (GHB), also known as G, Liquid X, Saltwater, Scoop, and Easy Lay, is a highly addictive deppresant that causes quick sedation. Its effects include drowsiness, nausea, vomiting, headaches, dizziness, coma, and even death. Much of the United States first took notice of GHB in the mid-1990s, when dozens of women across the nation reported waking up naked, bruised, and with no memory of what had happened the night before. Police learned that men had spiked their drinks with GHB and then raped the women after they lost consciousness. Death from taking GHB usually occurs when victims fall on their face and smother or aspirate on their own vomit. Drug abuse agencies nationwide have placed more emphasis on the dangers of GHB as treatment centers across the country have reported increases in GHB addiction and overdose.

Dating Partners Vs. Long-Term Partners

 Physical attraction has always been an important factor in bringing partners together, but it is not the only factor. When college students were asked to paint a mental picture of their ideal partner and relationship, both males and females rated three factors most highly: (1) personal characteristics relevant to the development of intimacy and loyalty; (2) personality and appearance characteristics relevant to levels of attractiveness, energy, and heatlh; and (3) characteristics relevant to social status and resources. In terms of the ideal relationship, the two most important factors were (1) the importance of intimacy and stability and (2) the degree of passion and exitement.

However, not everyone chooses a date according to what they desire in a long-term partner or relationship. In one survey, 1,135 college students were asked to name three qualities they considered to be the most important in a date and then to name three qualities they considered most important in a spouse. The most important characteristics in a date were primarily extrinsic characteristic: being physically attractive, having a congenial personality, having a sense of humor. The most important characteristics in a spouse were primarily intrinsic qualities: being loving, affectionate, and honest. This pattern was true for both males and females. These findings suggest that youths tend to look for somewhat different qualities in a spouse that in a date, a fact that may hinder the selection of a compatible marriage partner. If dating is the primary means of mate sorting but different qualities are desired in dates than are expected in spouses, how can suitable mates be discovered through the dating experience?

Research on the Components of Love

Research findings support the idea that the most complete love has a number of components. Robert Sternberg asked subjects to describe their relationships with lovers, parents, siblings, and friends. Analysis of the results revealed three components of close relationships: intimacy, passion, and decision/commitment to maintain the relationships.

o  Intimacy involves sharing feelings and providing emotional support. It usually involves high levels of self-disclosure through the sharing of personal onformation not ordinarily revealed because of risk involved. Intimacy gradually increases as the relationship matures and deepens.

o  The passsion component refers to sexuality, attraction, and romance in a relationship.

o  The decision/commitment component involves both short- and long-term factors. The short-term factor is the decision, made consciously and unconsciously, to love another person. The long-term factor is the commitment to maintain the love. Sometimes people fall in love but do nothing afterward to maintain it.

Sternberg and Barnes described eight different combinations of these three components of love:

1.          Absence of intimacy, passion, and commitment: no love

2.          Intimacy only: liking (but no passion or commitment)

3.          Passion only: infatuation (but little intimacy or commitment)

4.          Decision/commitment only: empty love (with no passion or intimacy)

5.          Intimacy and passion: romantic love (no commitment)

6.          Intimacy and commitment: compationate love (without passion)

7.          Passion and commitment: fatuous love (foolish love, without real intimacy)

8.          Intimacy, passion, and commitment: consummate love (the most complete love)

So, which is your kind of love? You have no love? Or, you have the most complete love?

Some Creative Things That You Can Do by Yourself

I got these pics from www.pinterest.com 

Here are some creative things that you can do by yourself.