For those “ball and chain” jokes and the idea that relationships always come before the self, here’s a ripost in favor of mutually-enriching relationships: “The Happy Marriage Is the ‘Me’ Marriage,” by Tara Parker-Pope (NY Times, December 31, 2010).

Research shows that the more self-expansion people experience from their partner, the more committed and satisfied they are in the relationship.

To measure this, Dr. Lewandowski developed a series of questions for couples: How much has being with your partner resulted in your learning new things? How much has knowing your partner made you a better person?

The article is accompanied by a great infographic.