Evidence-Based Guides

Myth vs. Science

Twenty deep-dive guides examining the most widely held beliefs about relationships — and what peer-reviewed research actually shows.

Topics:
01
Personality Science·Partially True

Is MBTI Real?

What the Science Actually Says About Personality and Relationships

50%of people get a different MBTI type when retested after just 5 weeks
personalitymbti
9 min read →
02
Popular Beliefs·Myth

Do Star Signs Predict Compatibility?

Astrology and Relationship Science — What the Evidence Shows

0%of peer-reviewed studies find star signs predict relationship compatibility above chance
astrologystar signs
7 min read →
03
Popular Frameworks·Partially True

The Love Languages Myth

What Research Says About How We Give and Receive Love

58%of couples report improved satisfaction after explicitly discussing love language preferences
love languagesaffection
8 min read →
04
Relationship Dynamics·Partially True

Can You Really Change Someone?

The Psychology of Behaviour Change in Relationships

83%of people report significant personality change over a 10-year period when intrinsically motivated
behaviour changepersonality
8 min read →
05
Breakup & Recovery·Mostly True

Does No Contact Actually Work?

The Evidence Behind the Most Debated Breakup Strategy

65%faster emotional recovery reported by those who maintained consistent no contact for 30+ days
no contactbreakup
9 min read →
06
Attachment Science·True

Why We Fall for the Wrong People

Attachment Theory and Repetition Compulsion Explained

73%of adults with insecure attachment report repeating similar relationship patterns across multiple relationships
attachment theoryrepetition compulsion
10 min read →
07
Emotional Psychology·True

The Science of Jealousy

What It Reveals About Your Attachment Style

85%of adults report experiencing romantic jealousy in at least one relationship
jealousyattachment
8 min read →
08
Relationship Dynamics·Mostly True

Can Long-Distance Relationships Work?

What the Research Actually Shows About LDRs

58%of long-distance relationships survive the transition to co-location — comparable to geographically close couples
long distanceLDR
7 min read →
09
Popular Beliefs·Myth

The Soulmate Myth

What Psychology Says About 'The One'

73%of people who hold 'destiny beliefs' about relationships end relationships sooner when conflict arises
soulmatedestiny beliefs
8 min read →
10
Neuroscience·True

Why Breakups Hurt Like Physical Pain

The Neuroscience of Heartbreak

88%overlap in brain regions activated by physical pain and romantic rejection in fMRI studies
neuroscienceheartbreak
8 min read →
11
Attachment Science·True

Anxious Attachment in Relationships

What It Is, Why It Happens, and What the Research Says to Do

20%of adults have an anxious-preoccupied attachment style (ECR-R population norms)
anxious attachmentattachment theory
11 min read →
12
Relationship Repair·Mostly True

How to Rebuild Trust After Betrayal

The Psychology of Repair — What the Research Actually Shows

64%of couples who undergo structured post-betrayal therapy report restored trust at 2-year follow-up
betrayaltrust
10 min read →
13
Breakup Science·Partially True

The Psychology of the Rebound Relationship

What Research Says About Moving On Too Fast — or Too Slow

73%of people enter a new relationship within 12 months of a significant breakup
reboundbreakup recovery
9 min read →
14
Relationship Dynamics·True

Why Silence Hurts More Than Arguments

The Neuroscience of Social Exclusion and the Stonewalling Effect

87%of couples in distressed relationships report stonewalling as a primary complaint — more than arguments
stonewallingGottman
8 min read →
15
Attachment Science·True

Emotional Unavailability — Signs and Science

What Dismissive-Avoidant Attachment Actually Looks Like

25%of adults have a dismissive-avoidant attachment style
emotional unavailabilityavoidant attachment
10 min read →
16
Breakup Science·Partially True

How Long Does It Take to Get Over a Breakup?

What the Research Actually Says About Breakup Recovery Timelines

11weeks is the median time for significant reduction in breakup distress in research samples
breakup recoverytimeline
8 min read →
17
Relationship Repair·True

The Science of Forgiveness in Relationships

What Forgiveness Actually Is — and What the Research Shows It Does

0.46Effect size (Cohen's d) of forgiveness interventions on relationship satisfaction — among the highest in couples research
forgivenessREACH
9 min read →
18
Breakup Science·True

Why We Idealise Our Exes

The Psychology of Rosy Retrospection and Romantic Memory

68%of people rate their former partners more positively 3 months after a breakup than they did during the relationship
idealisationmemory bias
8 min read →
19
Attachment Science·Partially True

Codependency vs. Healthy Attachment

Where the Line Is — and What the Science Actually Says

30%of adults in clinical samples meet criteria for codependent relationship patterns
codependencyinterdependence
10 min read →
20
Relationship Science·True

The Neuroscience of Falling in Love

What Actually Happens in Your Brain When You Fall for Someone

12distinct brain regions activate simultaneously when viewing a photo of a romantic partner
neurosciencedopamine
9 min read →
21
Relationship Science·Partially True

Do Love Languages Actually Work?

What the Research Really Says About Gary Chapman's Framework

61%of adults say feeling understood by their partner is more important than receiving gifts or acts of service
love languagesaffection
8 min read →
22
Attachment & Patterns·Mostly True

Can Long-Distance Relationships Survive?

The Surprising Science of Distance, Absence, and Attachment

37%of college students are in long-distance relationships at any given time
long distanceLDR
7 min read →
23
Repair & Growth·True

The Science of Conflict Repair

How Couples Recover from Arguments — and Why Most Do It Wrong

69%of relationship conflicts are perpetual — they never get fully resolved, but can be managed
conflictrepair
8 min read →
24
Attachment & Patterns·Mostly True

Narcissism in Relationships

What the Science Says About Narcissistic Patterns and How to Respond

6.2%lifetime prevalence of Narcissistic Personality Disorder in the general population
narcissismNPD
10 min read →
25
Attachment & Patterns·True

Relationship Anxiety

Why Your Nervous System Treats Love Like a Threat

20%of adults show anxious attachment patterns that generate chronic relationship anxiety
anxietyrelationship anxiety
9 min read →
26
Attachment & Patterns·Mostly True

The Psychology of Gaslighting

What It Is, What It Isn't, and How to Recognise It

58%of people in abusive relationships report chronic confusion about their own perceptions and memories
gaslightingmanipulation
8 min read →
27
Relationship Science·True

What Actually Predicts Relationship Satisfaction?

The 5 Evidence-Based Factors That Matter Most

0.67correlation between perceived partner responsiveness and long-term relationship satisfaction (r)
satisfactionpredictors
9 min read →
28
Repair & Growth·Mostly True

Self-Esteem and Relationship Quality

How Your Relationship with Yourself Shapes Your Relationship with Others

0.35correlation between self-esteem and relationship satisfaction across meta-analyses (r)
self-esteemself-worth
7 min read →
29
Repair & Growth·Mostly True

The Science of Relationship Boredom

Why Couples Grow Apart — and What the Research Says About Reigniting Connection

28%of long-term couples report boredom as a significant relationship concern
boredomhedonic adaptation
7 min read →
30
Repair & Growth·Mostly True

Does Couples Therapy Actually Work?

The Evidence Base for Relationship Therapy — and Which Approaches Work Best

70%of couples show significant improvement after Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)
therapycouples therapy
8 min read →