PH
Doing something new together isn't only useful for preventing boredom.
Classic relationship experiments asked couples to participate in activities they considered exciting and novel.
Couples engaging in these activities showed increases in reported relationship quality compared with some more ordinary activities.
Researchers connect this with self-expansion, where relationships provide opportunities for new experiences and growth.
The activity doesn't necessarily need to be extreme.
Trying something neither person has done before can introduce novelty into an otherwise familiar relationship.
Sometimes the excitement associated with an experience becomes part of the experience of being together.
© Journal of Personality and Social Psychology