Is intellect, a characteristic that is often a strength, actually destroying your relationship?
The four signs your partner utilizes the unconscious defense mechanism intellectualization.
Usually, intellect is a strength.
However, intellectualization, or overthinking to avoid deep feeling, may be detrimental in a relationship. Intellectualization is a psychoanalytic term defining a defense mechanism unconsciously employed to avoid uncomfortable emotions. And it may be detrimental in the context of a romantic relationship. If a person unconsciously blocks deeper and distressing emotions when discussing an issue with a partner, he or she may be preventing himself or herself from actually feeling the exact emotions necessary for closeness in a relationship.
