Healthy relationships are made up of respect, honesty, trust, and communication. A healthy relationship is a partnership that still allows each party to maintain their independence and ability to make decisions.
Healthy relationships are based upon economic equality (the freedom to make decisions regarding work, money, school, and other financial matters), emotional honesty, sexual respect, and physical safety.
Other Characteristics of Healthy Relationships Include:
Open communication:
- Listening and understanding
- Compromising
- Safety to share feelings
- Freedom to say no
- Personal responsibility
- Sensitivity to each other’s needs
Partnerships:
- Shared responsibilities
- Joint decision making
Safety:
- Physical, emotional, and sexual safety
- Respect of partner’s space
- Respect of each other’s sexual boundaries
- Taking “no” for an answer
- Communicating non-violently
- Sensitivity to needs
Boundaries:
- Ability to spend time alone with friends and family
- Maintaining privacy around personal technology
- Engaging in separate hobbies and activities
- Learn more about boundaries here.
Want to learn more about domestic violence? You can see our educational presentation topics here. To schedule a presentation on DV 101 for your school, workplace, or organization, click here.