Repetitive Patterns in Romantic Relationships

Questionnaire

The Centre for Psychoanalytic Studies (CPS) investigates the way in which people experience and understand recurring experiences in their romantic relationships. The study focuses on partner choice, closeness and distance, fear of loss or abandonment, dependency, conflict, and the perception of one's own contribution to the difficulties of a relationship.

Participation is anonymous and voluntary. The questionnaire is not a psychometric test or clinical assessment and does not provide a diagnosis or individualised interpretation.

1.When you think of your most significant romantic relationships, how often do you recognise similar difficulties recurring?

Not at allRarelyFairly oftenVery often

2.Have you found that you are attracted to people with similar characteristics, even when those characteristics ultimately cause you difficulty?

Not at allA littleQuite a bitVery much

3.When a partner becomes emotionally very important to you, how much do you fear that you might lose them?

Not at allA littleQuite a bitVery much

4.When you feel that your partner is withdrawing, which reaction is most characteristic of you?

It usually does not affect me muchI try to understand what is happeningI seek more contact or reassurance from themI feel intense anxiety, anger, or fear that the relationship is at risk

5.How often do you need reassurance that your partner still cares for you?

Almost neverOccasionallyOftenVery often

6.How often do you feel jealous or anxious about your partner's interest in other people?

Almost neverOccasionallyOftenVery often

7.Have you ever stayed in a relationship that caused you significant distress because the prospect of separation seemed even harder?

NeverOnceMore than onceIt is a recurring pattern in my relationships

8.When a relationship develops greater emotional closeness, how do you usually experience this?

I mostly feel comfortableI feel comfortable but also some uneaseI often begin to feel pressure or doubtI often feel the need to withdraw

9.Have you found yourself strongly desiring someone while they are emotionally or practically unavailable, and losing interest when they become more available?

NeverRarelySeveral timesOften

10.How often does your image of your partner shift dramatically — from very positive to very negative, or vice versa?

Almost neverRarelyFairly oftenVery often

11.When you are disappointed by your partner, how easy is it to keep their positive qualities in mind at the same time?

Very easyRelatively easyFairly difficultVery difficult

12.When there is intense conflict, what happens to you most often?

I can usually discuss what happenedI need time before I can discuss itI react strongly and then reconsiderI withdraw, cut off communication, or consider ending the relationship

13.How easy is it for you to express anger or dissatisfaction without fearing that it will destroy the relationship?

Very easyRelatively easyFairly difficultVery difficult

14.How often do you give up things that matter to you in order not to put a relationship at risk?

Almost neverOccasionallyOftenVery often

15.Have you felt that within a romantic relationship you gradually lose touch with your own desires or needs?

NeverRarelySeveral timesOften

16.When a relationship faces recurring difficulties, how easy is it to reflect on your own contribution to what is happening?

Very difficultI can do it sometimesI can usually examine my own contributionI am particularly interested in understanding what I myself may be repeating

17.After the end of a significant relationship, have you later found that similar difficulties appeared in the next one?

NoPerhaps, but I am not sureYes, to some extentYes, clearly

18.How often have you asked yourself "why do I end up in the same situation in my relationships again?"

NeverRarelySeveral timesVery often

19.If you discovered that a current difficulty in your relationships is connected to earlier experiences or ways you have learned to relate, how interested would you be in understanding this more deeply?

Not at allA littleQuite a bitVery much

20.Which statement is closest to your own experience?

The difficulties I had in my relationships were mainly due to specific circumstances or the people I encounteredI suspect that certain things may be repeating, but I do not know whyI recognise certain recurring patterns in the way I relateI recognise recurring patterns and would like to understand my own contribution to them more deeply

If you would like to be informed about the results of this study or future research activities of the Centre for Psychoanalytic Studies (CPS), you may optionally provide your email address.

Providing your email address is not a condition of participation.

Please answer all questions before submitting.