Dating as a Two-Way Emotional System
This article explores dating not as an individual emotional experience, but as a shared emotional system formed between two people. Humans are biologically wired to grow and regulate through connection, meaning that emotions, behaviors, and nervous system states constantly influence one another in intimate relationships. When two emotional systems interact, regulation or dysregulation becomes a mutual process rather than a personal failure.
Understanding dating as a two-way emotional system shifts the focus away from self-blame and toward recognizing how relational dynamics shape emotional safety, growth, and breakdown.