Latest news with #MenelaosApostolou
Metro
10-07-2025
- General
- Metro
3 of the most common break-up strategies – which have you done?
Hiyah Zaidi Published July 9, 2025 10:44am Link is copied Comments Ending a relationship is hard. Even if you've lost feelings for the person, or even still love them, there are a range of emotions that a breakup can stir, like regret, guilt and depression. However, how you end it is very important in processing it – and according to a study there are three ways a person ends a relationship (Picture: Getty) In a study published in the journal Personality and Individual Differences, researchers found there are 45 distinct ways that people use to end relationships. So, they broke these down to nine broad breakup techniques, and these down to three broader methods. The researchers conducted two studies. In the first one, 228 Greek-speaking adults (122 women and 105 men, with an average age of 30 for women and 31 for men) were asked to imagine themselves in an unhappy relationship and write down how they would end it – to which the researchers created 45 distinct ways someone would breakup with their partner (Picture: Getty) In the second study, the researchers asked 392 participants (185 women, 201 men, two identifying as 'other', and four choosing not to specify with an average age of 34 for women and 38 for men), how likely they were to use each of the 45 breakup methods. They also measured personality traits, with a focus on traits like agreeableness and a set of less well-regarded characteristics known as the Dark Triad: psychopathy, Machiavellianism, and narcissism (Picture: Getty) Dr Menelaos Apostolou, a professor of evolutionary psychology at the University of Nicosia told PsyPost: 'Most people will experience the end of an intimate relationship (usually several times), with either themselves or their partners initiating it. Because this phenomenon is relatively common and painful, I was motivated to ask how people actually do so, which the current research aimed to address.' So, what are the three ways people tend to break up with their partner? (Picture: Getty) The top technique sees the person breaking up explain why things are ending. The person often takes responsibility for ending things, and tells their partner why the breakup could benefit them both. This could be something simple, for example if you have lost feelings for your partner, you could say that you're not happy in the relationship anymore, and they deserve to be with someone who wants to be with them. The researchers found that those who had personality traits that were higher in agreeableness, a trait associated with kindness and consideration for others, were less likely to use a 'cold and distant' approach (Picture: Getty) The second most popular way of breaking up with your partner is to take a break – a temporary separation when you are too afraid to fully abandon the idea of your relationship. This allows you to process your feelings towards your partner but to enjoy the freedom of being single. However, this can often lead to one person feeling heartbroken or betrayed so be careful with this one (Picture: Getty) A lot of the time this is probably the worst way you can break up with a partner. In most cases it is cold and cowardly, as you just disappear from someone's life, like ghosting – but worse. The researchers said people who used this form tended to have higher levels of Machiavellianism, associated with manipulativeness. And participants with higher levels of psychopathy, a trait linked with impulsivity and a lack of empathy, were more prone to blame their partner for the breakup. But in general, personality characteristics had little bearing on which strategies people used (Picture: Getty)
Daily Mail
09-07-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
Study reveals the most common break up strategy 86% of people use to leave their partner - have YOU experienced it?
Those with higher level of psychopathy were more likely to blame the break up on their partner A study has revealed the most common way people end relationships - with one method proving extremely popular. The research, commissioned by researchers in Cyprus, explored how people go about ending romantic relationships, as published in the journal Personality and Individual Differences. Researchers identified 45 specific breakup behaviours and grouped them into three main strategies, according to PsyPost - with the results revealing that most people aim to let their partners down as gently as possible. The study, led by Professor Menelaos Apostolou of the University of Nicosia, examined the breakup habits of Greek-speaking adults and looked at whether personality traits played a role in how people choose to end things. 'Most people will experience the end of an intimate relationship, usually several times, with either themselves or their partners initiating it,' Apostolou said. 'Because this phenomenon is relatively common and painful, I was motivated to ask how people actually do so, which the current research aimed to address.' The first of two studies involved 228 adults - 122 women and 105 men - who were asked to imagine themselves in an unhappy relationship and describe how they would end it. New research has revealed the ways in which people break up with one another, and one strategy dominates 86 per cent of adults (File image) The second study surveyed 392 people - 185 women, 201 men, two identifying as 'other' and four who preferred not to say. These participants, with an average age of around 30-34, rated how likely they were to use each of the 45 breakup methods. From this, the researchers identified nine specific breakup strategies, including: 'Explain the reasons' - offering a direct and honest conversation 'Cold and distant' - gradually withdrawing from the relationship 'Ghosting' - disappearing without explanation 'Take the blame' - ending things while accepting responsibility 'Have been unfaithful' - citing infidelity or interest in someone else 'Take some time off' - requesting a temporary break 'See you as a friend' - suggesting a platonic connection 'We'd be better off apart' - saying the breakup is in both partners' interests 'Avoid ending it face to face' - using texts, calls or social media By far the most popular method, 'soften the blow' was used by the overwhelming majority of participants, while the least common methods involved avoidance (File image) These nine specific approaches were then grouped into three overarching strategies. 1. Soften the Blow - 86 per cent By far the most popular method, 'soften the blow' was used by the overwhelming majority of participants. This strategy involves being honest and considerate - giving reasons, accepting blame and framing the breakup as a decision that benefits both partners. For many, it reflects a desire to reduce pain and conflict in an already difficult situation. 2. Take a Break - 24 per cent A smaller but still significant portion of participants preferred a less final approach. This group opted to take a temporary pause in the relationship, giving both parties space to reflect on their feelings and decide whether to continue. Apostolou described this approach as the second most preferred strategy, 'where individuals express a desire for a temporary separation to reassess feelings.' 3. Avoid Confrontation - 16 per cent The least common breakup method involved avoidance - either by ghosting, gradually disappearing or becoming emotionally distant until the relationship fades out. This group may avoid direct conflict but risk leaving their partners confused and hurt by the lack of closure. 'People employ three main strategies to end an intimate relationship,' Apostolou told PsyPost. 'The most preferred one is "soften the blow," involving explaining the breakup reasons, taking responsibility and convincing the partner that separation is beneficial for both. The second most preferred one is 'take a break,' where individuals express a desire for a temporary separation to reassess feelings. 'Avoid confrontation,' involving gradually fading away or disappearing without explanation, is the least preferred strategy.' The study was led by Professor Menelaos Apostolou of the University of Nicosia (pictured) and found that personality made little difference in how people chose to end relationships People with higher levels of agreeableness, often described as kind and considerate, were less likely to opt for the 'cold and distant' strategy. Meanwhile, those who scored higher in Machiavellianism, a trait associated with manipulation, were more likely to take that approach. Participants with higher levels of psychopathy were more likely to blame their partner for the breakup, consistent with the impulsivity and lack of empathy linked to that trait. But overall, the researchers found that gender, age and personality made little difference in how people chose to end relationships. Apostolou admitted he had expected to see clearer differences, but said they were 'very small or inexistent.' The findings suggest that cultural and evolutionary factors may play a bigger role than personality in shaping how people break up. Humans have depend on social bonds for survival and reproduction and, in ancestral environments, ending a relationship could have had serious consequences. Using strategies that reduce conflict and maintain reputation may have helped people move on more successfully. 'The phenomenon is complex,' Apostolou said. 'A single piece of research gives only a general idea about how people end an intimate relationship. 'My ultimate objective is to understand how intimate relationships work. An important step in this direction is to understand the interactions between intimate partners, and the present research falls within this objective.' The study, titled Soften the blow, avoid confrontation, take a break: Three strategies that people use to terminate an intimate relationship, was authored by Menelaos Apostolou and Antonios Kagialis.
News.com.au
30-06-2025
- General
- News.com.au
Three common tactics people use when they're planning to break up with you
A recent study published in the journal Personality and Individual Differences shared strategies people often use when breaking up with someone. Reportedly, breakups are harder for men than women. But regardless of who's ending things, there are three common ways people go about it, according to the study. 'Most people will experience the end of an intimate relationship (usually several times), with either themselves or their partners initiating it,' study author Menelaos Apostolou, a professor of evolutionary psychology at the University of Nicosia, said according to Psy Post. 'Because this phenomenon is relatively common and painful, I was motivated to ask how people actually do so, which the current research aimed to address.' There were 228 participants in the study — both men and women in their early 30s — who were asked to envision themselves in a relationship they weren't happy in and then write down how they would go about ending it. Another 228 participants were instructed to look at 45 different ways of breaking up with someone and figure out how likely they would use any of the methods. Softening the blow Based on the responses researchers received from the hundreds of participants, the most popular method to break things off with someone (86 per cent) is the 'softening the blow' tactic. Common examples of this method are trying not to blame the other person and taking responsibility for some of the wrongdoing in the relationship. Taking a break Another common way people say 'thank you, next' to their partners is by suggesting a break. Twenty-four per cent of the young adults said that taking a break is the best option. Although many couples don't come back from a period of being apart, people argued it's an opportunity for both individuals to evaluate the relationship separately to decide if they want to continue dating or not. Avoiding confrontation And the third commonly used break-up method is avoiding confrontation — aka ghosting. Sixteen per cent of people would rather not say anything at all and instead slowly drift away from their partner — leaving the other person confused and heartbroken, wondering what went wrong. The group who prefer to ghost their significant others are probably the same people who would consider using AI to end a relationship. According to a survey by dating assistant Wingmate, 41 per cent of people use bots to break things off with someone. And reportedly, women are more guilty of this than men. Nearly half of 18 to 29-year-olds find that it's easier to ask someone else — Chat GPT, that is — to do the dirty work for them.
Yahoo
30-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Most people use these 3 sneaky tactics to break up with someone — here's how to recognize if it's happening to you
They're all saying buh-bye the same way. A recent study published in the journal Personality and Individual Differences shared strategies people often use when breaking up with someone. Reportedly, breakups are harder for men than women. But regardless of who's ending things, there are three common ways people go about it, according to the study. 'Most people will experience the end of an intimate relationship (usually several times), with either themselves or their partners initiating it. Because this phenomenon is relatively common and painful, I was motivated to ask how people actually do so, which the current research aimed to address,' said study author Menelaos Apostolou, a professor of evolutionary psychology at the University of Nicosia, according to Psy Post. 228 participants in the study — both men and women in their early 30s — were asked to envision themselves in a relationship they weren't happy in and then write down how they would go about ending it. 228 others were instructed to look at 45 different ways of breaking up with someone and figure out how likely they would use any of the methods. Based on the responses researchers received from the hundreds of participants, the most popular method to break things off with someone (86%) is the 'softening the blow' tactic. Common examples of this method are trying not to blame the other person and taking responsibility for some of the wrongdoing in the relationship. Another common way people say 'thank you, next' to their partners is by suggesting a break. 24% of the young adults said that taking a break is the best option. Although many couples don't come back from a period of being apart, people argued it's an opportunity for both individuals to evaluate the relationship separately to decide if they want to continue dating or not. And the third commonly used breakup method is avoiding confrontation — aka ghosting. 16% of people would rather not say anything at all and instead slowly drift away from their partner — leaving the other person confused and heartbroken, wondering what went wrong. The group who prefer to ghost their significant others are probably the same people who would consider using AI to end a relationship. According to a survey by dating assistant Wingmate, 41% of people use bots to break things off with someone. And reportedly, women are more guilty of this than men. Nearly half of 18- to 29-year-olds find that it's easier to ask someone else — Chapt GPT, that is — to do the dirty work for them.
