The Love Untold: A Phenomenological Investigation on Teenage Dating Relationships

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Research Questions

This study seeks to answer the following questions:

- What are the experiences of teenagers engaged in teenage relationships?

- What are the positive experiences of the teenagers engaging in teenage relationships?

- What are the negative experiences of the teenagers engaging in teenage relationships

- What is the importance of these experiences to these teenagers?

- How do these experiences affect the lives of these teenagers?

- How do these teenagers value these experiences as part of their relationships?

- How do these teenagers handle their relationships and manage their other priorities?

- What are the skills needed to handle such relationships?

- What are the disadvantages of engaging in such relationships?

- How do these teenagers cope up with other priorities such as school?

- Do these teenagers take these matters such as these relationships seriously?

- Do these teenagers find it difficult to maintain such relationships?

- What are the insights of these teenagers in teenage relationships?

- What are the positive insights of these teenagers in teenage relationships?

- What are the negative insights of these teenagers in teenage relationships?

- What are the things that are needed to reconsider for an effective relationship?

- What makes a good relationship partner?

- What are the standards required by some teenagers in choosing their partners?

Theoretical Lens

This phenomenological study is envisioned from Zhahai Stewart’s (1980) New Relationship Energy Theory as a useful lens in investigating issues and concerns such as teenage relationships. Since our study is all about the experiences of teenagers partaking in teenage relationships, New Relationship Theory is the very useful lens in investigating this social issue. As part of their daily undertakings, teenagers can communicate with each other their problems in handling their relationships with their partners and impart each other their experiences and the things they have done in order to cope with the hardships they encounter. In such daily communication, the participants of this study can create common themes where processes involved in social representation are created.

Also, the New Relationship Energy Theory includes a view of the nature of some common relationships. It explains how a person’s mind behaves in the beginning of a new relationship. New Relationship Energy is a state of mind experienced at the beginning of most significant sexual and romantic relationships, typically involving heightened emotional and sexual receptivity and excitement. It begins with the earliest attractions, grows into full force when mutuality is established, and slowly fades over months to years. It carries an implication of contrast with the feelings involved with “old” or an ongoing relationship.

While the dynamics described by NRE are common to almost all relationships, the term is particularly prevalent in the polyamorous community, in large part because polyamorous people often experience new relationship energy alongside ongoing but older relationship which they also wish to maintain. Adjusting to and compensating for the contrast in effect and excitement between new and old relationships is considered an important factor in successfully balancing those relationships.

This phenomenological study is mirrored also on the different aspects of love. The Triangular Theory of Love is the very useful lens in investigating this social issue. The triangular theory of love is a theory of love developed by psychologist Robert Sternberg. He emphasized in his research that in the context of interpersonal relationships, "the three components of love, according to the triangular theory, are an intimacy component, a passion component, and a decision/commitment component.”

Passion. Passion can be associated with either physical arousal or emotional stimulation. Passion is defined in three ways: A strong feeling of enthusiasm or excitement for something or about doing something; A strong feeling (such as anger) that causes people to act in a dangerous way; and a strong sexual or romantic feeling for someone

Intimacy. Intimacy is described as the feelings of closeness and attachment to one another. This tends to strengthen the tight bond that is shared between the two individuals. Additionally, having a sense of intimacy helps create the feeling of being at ease with one another, in the sense that the two parties are mutual in their feelings.

Intimacy is primarily defined as something of a personal or private nature; familiarity.

Commitment. Unlike the other two blocks, commitment involves a conscious decision to stick with one another. The decision to remain committed is mainly determined by the level of satisfaction that a partner derives from the relationship. There are three ways to define commitment; A promise to do or give something; A promise to be loyal to someone or something; and the attitude of someone who works very hard to do or support something

Significance of the Study

I am confident that this phenomenological study would add to the usefulness and significance of handling and guiding teenagers especially those who partake in teenage relationships. It is through this study that I was able to obtain information about the teenagers’ struggles and hardships in handling and maintaining their relationships, as well as the different problems they met while coping up with other priorities such as school.

Moreover, the knowledge obtained from the study would be important in getting information about other social issues such as teenage pregnancy since this study focuses on intimate relationships of teenagers and why is it significant in their lives and what is the nature of their relationships. Moreover, to the parents in general who are having difficulties in guiding their children during these extensive years of development, and to the