www.vouchercloud.com has found that the setting of most couples’ argument is in the car.
Relationships on Female First
Staggeringly, most respondents said that they argue every few days, once a week or once or twice a month in the car and that was the place where the argument often begins.
So we found out what exactly triggers these differences of opinion.
The driving style- Nationwide has found that partners are most annoyed by their partner losing their temper at other drivers, when perhaps they have no right to be and driving too fast, because they feel unsafe as their passenger. They are also angered by their partner breaking at the last minute as it could cause a crash, not paying attention to the road and would rather them pull over to eat, or call someone and tailgating as it gives less opportunity to break if there are problems up ahead.
The car itself- If it’s on its last legs and you need to discuss what your next move is- this can be fraught with anxiety- as it means a large sum of money being shelled out for deposits that you might simply not have. Plus a debt for an average of five years. If one of you drives recklessly then you might say something, or simply the confined space can create a perceived reason to talk when perhaps you are not in the mood to.
Shopping – Shopping can be a tricky one for most couples as men generally hate it and women tend to enjoy the activity. The drive there can be filled with disagreements as you decide what you are going to buy and bring up the obvious that some people want to be there and others simply don’t. Women can get out of hand once they are in shops too which can anger men when a time was agreed on before they started, which has not been stuck to.
On a night out – Whoever is the designated driver can become a bit resentful if they are always the one who drives to and from places, especially if they are in the mood to kick back with a drink but can’t. If your partner is having too much of a good time it can make things even worse.
Visiting relatives – Despite how much you love them, it can always seem like a bit of a chore to go and visit. If you loathe your extended family it can kick start crossed words as you discuss how you are going to deal with certain topics of conversation.
Over a meal – Meals out can go one of two ways it can be a great precursor to the rest of your night or it can cause an argument on the way home. If it has cost too much, or one or both of you didn’t enjoy what you paid for, or something was said at dinner that one of you didn’t like- all manner of bad feeling can arise from dining out.
Matthew Wood of vouchercloud.com made the following comment:
“Driving can often be stressful even when on your own, but this sense of stress only increases when under the critical eye of a partner. Is one person driving too fast? Or is the other person in the relationship being too cautious when pulling out? Either way, couples can easily experience their own form of road rage – directed at one another rather than other drivers. Directions are also often a cause of contention. Most people are confident they know the best route to take but if their partner opts for an alternative and you end up stuck in a traffic jam then fireworks are sure to follow!”
tagged in Couples