Could you give me an example maybe of what that type of negotiation would look like? >> Well say for example if we have someone is having an affair, right? So that tells you that this person is seeking some kind of gratification. That is not being met in the current relationship. I think an open way of exploring is like, yeah, I can see that people can become angry and disappointed, hurt and all that, you would act emotionally. But by the end of the day what should be opened up is to give this person an opportunity to reflect on why am I doing this? What needs are not being met? And is there any possibility that some kind of transformation, a rearrangement, can be made in this current relationship so that those needs can be met?
>> right. So that is a lot of the kind of reframing that we believe would be helpful. It doesn't always work, you know, for some people because they are heavily invested into certain scripts and they think that an affair is like something that is just unacceptable. >> Right. Right, and some people will automatically switch from, okay, you are having an affair, that's the end of the story, I'm quitting, you know? But we have also seen couples who have survived an affair, or even affairs, when they're able to renegotiate. What can we do together to make this relationship more gratifying, so that you would not need to explore outside of this relationship. But of course when I'm saying all this, I'm still operating within the generally accepted social script of a one-on-one, sort of monogamous kind of relationship. >> right. And there are obviously people who can imagine themselves in an alternate script in which it is possible for one or both partners to have more than one relationship at the same time. >> right. So that creates another possibility for people to renegotiate. So kind of in that way it's like an affair essentially could be an opportunity for someone to really drastically communicate their needs to their partner but also opportunity for them to communicate with each other, negotiate something that works for both of them. >> Yeah, I definitely can see that but again I think we also do not want to risk of like over idealizing.
>> Sure. You know, an affair, for some people it is sort of something that they do not take or they can not take and I respect that too if that is your script and that's your set of rules. I think everyone has a right to say that there is something that I do not accept. >> Mm-hm. And when this happens, I quit. I obviously would encourage most people to rethink, right? >> Right. And look at the overall situation. But I think that is a position I think that has to be respected. I just realize that there are like more than one position that people can take. And it would be good to have them, like, all put on the table, so that people have more options.