The Twelve Relationship Archetypes

12 Relationship Archetypes:
Hidden Patterns That Can Make or Break Your Love Life

What makes a couple relationship work? There is no standard formula. Every relationship is unique. And yet most relationships, for better or worse, fall into an archetypal pattern that, when identified, can add extra meaning and purpose to the relationship and provide extra “sticking power” for the couple when times get tough.

Recognizing unproductive or dysfunctional archetypal patterns playing out in a relationship can help the individuals and couples understand what’s happening and to change them.

What is a “Relationship Archetype”?

Most people know a bit about relationship “types” and relationship “patterns” but if you’re reading this you will be one of the few to know about “relationship archetypes.” The word “archetype” is from the Latin “archetypum,” which means “original pattern; beginning, origin.” A collectively inherited unconscious pattern that is universally present, archetypes operate through individual psyches, in couple relationship and groups.

Couples usually don’t realize it, but much of the foundation for their desire to partner may be archetypal in nature—inherited yearnings that, when recognized and fulfilled, have the power to transform the entire relationship.

The 12 Couple Relationship Archetypes

1. The Power Couple – Purpose: achieve status, financial, business, and material goals.
2. The New Age Couple – Purpose: personal and spiritual exploration and development.
3. The Family Oriented Couple – Purpose: raise children, care for extended family, and further family legacy.
4. The Religious Oriented Couple – Purpose: serve God together, support a religious community, and promote positive religious messages and works.
5. The Service Oriented Couple – Purpose: make a positive difference in the world by helping others, caring for the environment, etc.
6. The Adventurous Couple – Purpose: pursue new and stimulating experiences through sports, travel, alternative lifestyles, etc.
7. The Unhappy Couple – Purpose: abdicate personal responsibility by blaming partner and circumstances for dissatisfaction and unhappiness (though they usually are unaware and would never admit that). While they may express unhappiness verbally and even physically, they both accept the status quo and neither acts to make any changes.
8. The Intellectual Couple – Purpose: pursue and share intellectual pursuits such as education, reading, writing, teaching, discussion, etc.
9. The Co-dependent Couple – Purpose: take care of each other; the helper needs to help as much as the helpee needs help.
10. The Pleasure Oriented Couple – Purpose: seeking fun and pleasure in any form (vacations, clubbing, sex, etc.), “if it feels good, do it.”
11. The Survival Oriented Couple – Purpose: focused on meeting daily survival needs, assisting each other to survive physically, financially, mentally, and/or emotionally (extreme examples might include homeless couples, mental health patients, off-the-grid survivalists, etc.).
12. The Soul Mate Couple – Purpose: leverage their deep, extraordinary, multi-dimensional connection/partnership to live life to the fullest and fulfill their individual and combined potential. Usually includes a combination of the above archetypes (this is a powerful archetype that many yearn and strive for).

Notice that some archetypes might be perceived as desirable and others undesirable. Their commonality is that they are deeply rooted, unconscious forces driving relationship choices. We all know couples who don’t appear compatible or happy yet find each other and stay together, a testament to the power of these archetypes.

The value of these archetypes is that when you recognize your pattern you can make choices from awareness instead of unconsciousness. This is necessary to create the life and relationship that you really want.

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For more relationship information and free resources:

• ConsciousDating.com for singles
• CoupleforLife.com for couples
• RadicalMarriage.com for advanced partnerships
• RelationshipCoachFinder.com to find a Relationship Coach
• RCI’s free Starter Kit to learn about becoming a Relationship Coach