The psychologist spoke about the risks of a viral "divorce at the airport" before traveling

The "airport divorce" trend is not a proven psychological technique, but it may be related to mechanisms for reducing stress and temporarily reducing tension in a relationship. Alexandra Grazhdanov, a psychologist in the AST (acceptance and responsibility therapy) approach, told Izvestia about this on July 9.

According to the expert, the ritual itself from social networks has no proven effectiveness, but its popularity is associated with a real psychological process: before traveling, people's stress levels often increase due to fees, flight expectations and organizational difficulties.

As the Citizen noted, the airport can become a source of additional tension for a couple: stress reduces the ability to empathize, increases irritability and makes them perceive their partner's actions more negatively. Temporary distance in such a situation can help reduce emotional stress.

"The idea of splitting up for a while may work subjectively. But not because there is some kind of psychological reset of the relationship. Rather, the partners temporarily stop the source of such mutual stimulation, that is, they reduce a little stress from the conflict itself," the psychologist noted.

The expert explained that this approach is similar to the pause technique used in family therapy. However, the difference between a pre-agreed break and the phrase "divorce" is important, which can be perceived by a partner as a threat to the relationship.

"If both partners understand the rules of the game, feel safe, and use this ritual as a way to reduce tension, then it can really serve as a kind of humorous attention switch. But if one is laughing and the other is worried, then the relationship may really be under threat," the specialist said.

According to the psychologist, the pause itself is useful only when the partners return to discussing the problem after it. If the conflict is simply postponed, the cause of the disagreement remains unresolved.

To reduce stress before traveling, the expert recommends allocating responsibilities in advance, discussing travel expectations, and using safe ways to end the conflict, such as agreeing on a temporary break. Such skills help strengthen relationships better than viral rituals from social networks.

Anna Makarova, a clinical psychologist, coach and business consultant, said on May 12 that situations when a person finds himself drawn into a "love triangle" are always associated with rigidity in roles, beliefs, and scenarios that repeat themselves from time to time. At the same time, the process of breaking a "love triangle" can be associated with pain and risks: a person is required to make specific decisions and face the consequences of their actions.