What Love Island USA can teach us about relationships

What is Love Island USA?

Love Island USA is a reality TV show where contestants (aka Islanders aka bombshells) must couple up to hopefully win the grand prize of $100,000. Since Season 7 premiered this summer, audiences have seen it all: couples formed, people dumped, new bombshells, heavy conversations, and steamy challenges. Through it all, Islanders pick someone to couple up with. During the season, America then votes on which couples they like, and ultimately decides which couple takes home the prize. While the chats are fun to watch, what can Love Island USA teach us about relationships?

What can Love Island USA teach us about relationships?

Love Island USA can teach us a lot about dating and relationships. It shows that relationships can look different for each person. It gives examples of healthy and unhealthy behaviors in relationships. It also shows what is needed for a healthy relationship (whether at home or a villa in Fiji).

Love Island USA teaches that communication is key.

Communication is a key part of a healthy relationship. On Love Island USA, Islanders pull each other for a chat to see if they are a good match. What they talk about, like their interests or family, is crucial. Obviously, you want to have things in common with your partner! But how they talk about things is also important. When you talk to your partner (or potential partner), it’s important to be open and honest with them. This means sharing both positive and negative things. Healthy communication also means respectfully listening to each other and trying to understand everyone’s point of view. It’s okay to disagree on things as long as everyone is respectful and treats the conversation with compassion.

It’s okay to have expectations.

Everyone has an idea of what they want their relationship to look like. And that’s okay! It’s normal to have hopes and expectations for a relationship. No matter what your expectations are, it’s important to talk about them. It can be risky to assume what someone expects or how they feel. If you talk about your expectations, there is a clearer idea of what everyone wants. Sometimes the expectations are realistic and doable; others can be unrealistic and need to be adjusted. When you’re open and honest about your expectations, it’s easier to be on the same page as your partner.

It’s good to talk about boundaries.

Boundaries are about personal comfort levels or needs and are different for each person. They are guidelines for our relationships and help us know how to act with our partners. It’s important to name your boundaries because it lets your partner know what’s okay and what isn’t. If you don’t talk about your boundaries, your partner might do something that hurts you. It’s also important to respect each other’s boundaries. If you don’t agree with the boundary or don’t think you can respect it, it might be a sign that this relationship isn’t the right one for you.

Patterns of behavior can tell a lot.

Dating abuse is a pattern of behaviors used to gain or maintain power and control over a partner. That could look like your partner consistently putting you down, even after you ask them to stop. It could also be someone who does unhealthy things in each relationship they’ve been in. It’s important to judge their actions over a period of time. If they consistently act in unhealthy ways, even after talking about it, that’s a red flag.

Love Island USA teaches that it’s okay to talk about relationships.

An interesting part of Love Island USA is that we see multiple relationships in action. You see people asking others about their relationship and wanting their advice. That’s great! People often think that you shouldn’t ask about someone’s relationship or talk about it. Love Island USA teaches us that it’s okay to talk about your relationship. It’s also okay to see how it compares to others. This can give you an idea of whether your relationship is healthy, unhealthy, or abusive. For example, you might see another couple where boundaries are respected and talked about. If that doesn’t happen in your relationship, it can help you recognize what you’re missing.

We’re here to help.

It’s okay to talk about your relationship! Whether at the villa, Casa Amor, or your house, our advocates are here 24/7. You can reach out for a quick chat or to ask any questions you have. We’re always here to talk about what Love Island USA can teach us about relationships.