Love and Politics

Love and politics are both known to fuel strong emotions, especially when they clash. Alexander Hoffman has been tangling with his wife over the presidential primaries -- even though they're both Democrats. He's backing Hillary Clinton, his wife prefers Barack Obama -- and their political differences have been the source of endless debate.

"We have a Tivo, and we watch the debates and Meet the Press," says Hoffman, a graduate student at Columbia University. "We pause what we're watching, discuss, argue, and move on -- then pause it again 30 seconds later. Have voices ever been raised? Yes."

His wife, Devjani, is an attorney. "The discussion can become a little heated when one of us feels the other isn't fully listening," she tells WebMD. "There is a strong desire to win the argument, and that can amp up the stress level."

The Importance of Political Differences

Political differences don't necessarily hurt a relationship, says Susan Heitler, PhD, a clinical psychologist and author of The Power of Two: Secrets of a Strong & Loving Marriage. "It depends on how strong the relationship is to begin with. If you put political differences into an already undernourished partnership, the strain can be big."

In contrast, she tells WebMD, couples with good communications skills may find it enriching to discuss their differences.

"What's important is not the actual differences between people, but how the differences are handled," says Howard Markman, PhD, author of Fighting for Your Marriage and director of the Center of Marital and Family Studies at the University of Denver. "If they handle [political talk] well, it can be a great source of intimacy and connection."

This holds true even when spouses belong to different political parties. Ryan Turner, a marketing director in Lighthouse Point, Fla., is a Republican. His wife, Heather, is a Democrat. Rather than fueling conflict, their differences are a source of lively conversation. "Political talk within the family structure works well for us," Turner tells WebMD. "It allows for a broader discussion than, 'How did your day go?'"