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Partners regularly make tiny attempts to connect—showing something funny, mentioning what happened at work, pointing something out, or asking a small question.
Relationship researchers sometimes describe these as bids for connection.
Consistently responding with interest can help maintain emotional connection, while repeatedly ignoring or dismissing them can create distance.
Not every meaningful relationship moment looks romantic enough for a movie scene.
Sometimes it's simply looking up from your phone when your partner says, “Look at this.”
© The Gottman Institute