‘I’d rather see you dead, little girl than to see you with another man…’ sang the Beatles in the 1960s. Its common for partners to be possessive about each other, that’s what the whole exclusivity deal is about, isn’t it? But often in relationships, feelings of possessiveness develop about completely different things and people than the conventional ‘other man’ or ‘other woman’. So what are those things that ruffle feathers and cause men and women to seethe silently next to their spouses or partners? What makes people feel completely dissatisfied because they feel there is a part of their partner that they cannot ‘own’ or reach? Here are some of these trouble areas.

Continue reading ‘Possessiveness: Some Common Triggers’

A recent Tamil hit film called ‘Unnale Unnale’ made a certain kind of female character register in unforgettable ways with the audience. This is the kind of woman who is always angry about something or the other, intensely critical of her partner for doing all the ‘guy’ things like drink with his buddies, arrive late, tell white lies, or try and crack stupid jokes to cover up his faults. Played by the beautiful Sada on screen, this character grates so intensely on one’s nerves that one is tempted to walk out of the film – before the much sweeter-tempered girl played by Tanissha can actually win the hero! While you watch the repeated tantrums of poor Sada, one wonders – can any person be so unsporting, so petty, so lacking in humour?

Continue reading ‘The Sporting Temperament’