Which of the following best describes 'investments' in the Investment Model?

• A. Resources such as shared history, time, and financial commitments that would be lost if the relationship ends.
• B. Current happiness level.
• C. Physical attraction.
• D. Number of arguments per month.

Answer: (A)

Investments are the resources you’ve put into a relationship that would be lost or hard to recover if the relationship ends. They’re not about how happy you feel right now or how attractive you find your partner; they’re about what you’ve built together—time, shared memories, money or property, plans for the future, and emotional energy. The more you’ve invested, the more costly it would be to leave, which strengthens your commitment.

Current happiness reflects satisfaction with the relationship, not what you’d lose by breaking up. Physical attraction is about how drawn you are to your partner, not the resources tied up in the partnership. The number of arguments per month speaks to conflict, not to the investments that bind you to stay.