Carter Stowman
Student Writer
Dr. John Van Epp, president and founder of Love Thinks, Inc. traveled to Parmer Hall on Tuesday night to give a talk about personal relationships and forming romantic attachments.
Focusing on millennials for the duration of his hour-long talk, Van Epp provided helpful information regarding subjects such as warning signs of people you should avoid, the five areas you should know about your partner and the Relationship Attachment Model (RAM).
According to Van Epp and the several students that voiced their own opinions, these are some of the characteristics of jerks & “jerkettes”: selfish, arrogant, stubborn, hypocritical, passive-aggressive or controlling. If you know anyone with one or more of these qualities there’s a good chance they are not ready for a relationship, especially if they are somebody that is not willing to change.
Also mentioned were a few things to know about your partner, or potential partner, such as family background and attitudes and actions of the conscience.
Van Epp was persistent in noting how important it is to figure out the maturity of your partner’s conscience. He used his daughter’s dating life as an example when her date, instead of retrieving the car in the rain after a date, turned to her and said “I’ll race you to the car,” and took off running, leaving her drenched.
Before this rather fast hour wrapped up, Van Epp quickly summarized his Relationship Attachment Model. There are five categories to this model. The trick is to find the right balance for you and your partner.
Senior Communication Major Ronnie Duriske said, “It was definitely an effective use of time. It was helpful in teaching college students how to evaluate relationships and know how to implement change if necessary.”
Love Thinks offers many programs and services that guide people through personal growth and the development of healthy relationships.
For more information about building a healthy relationship, you can find Dr. Van Epp’s book How to Avoid Falling in Love With a Jerk: The Foolproof Way to Follow Your Heart Without Losing Your Mind in the campus bookstore or online at www.lovethinks.com and www.mylovethinks.com.
Many resources can also be found online such as a quiz to find out if you are dating a jerk, webinars, online courses, and a calendar of future events.