The Dove

The Dove is practical and stable as a lover, seeking emotional support and closeness but also space to pursue their own goals and lives. With this balance, they’re likely to prefer interdependent romances where they can foster a sense of oneness as well as a shared sense of self for both partners. They seek stability, security, compatibility, and reliability. The Doves are looking for a way to live their lives and achieve their goals independently while still having the safety net of their relationship at home. These people are looking for a true partnership, in which both people relate to and understand each other and are there for each other but don’t need to lean on one another for everything in life.

Desires

• An independent sense of self and life outside of the relationship.
• Security, compatibility, and reliability so they can feel anchored and settled in love.
• A balanced give and take that feels more like a partnership in life and in love.
• A partner that can help them grow.

Ideal Relationship

• A relationship where both partners share goals and aspirations but also nurture their own individualities.
• A partnership with someone who can be an anchor in their life.
• A safe space they can retreat to when their independent pursuit of goals or self-actualization becomes stormy.
• A partner that has the ability to be a part of their life (family, friends, etc.,) but also has a life of their own. They should be able to enter their life but don't always have to enmesh in it.

When The Dove is in love, they’re likely to prefer the other person take the first steps. After a few relationship milestones, they're more comfortable taking the lead. They value their independence, but are still likely capable of and desire commitment. This helps them build and foster healthy romances where both partners keep their individuality while blending other aspects of their lives.

More self-reliant than other types, They don't need their partners to be their superhero, but do appreciate a sidekick who complements their weaknesses. They want to share experiences with a partner and have time to enjoy some by themselves.

Being with The Dove

A relationship with The Dove is likely to start off slow. They may take a backseat during the dating stage, especially when it comes to milestones like who says “I love you” first. But, after the initial phase, things can move quickly from sparks into something deeper and more meaningful.

Bright spots of a relationship with The Dove

• Once they settle into a romance, their partners can feel like they’ve got a teammate, a cheerleader, and a shoulder to cry on.
• Since The Dove picks partners carefully and slowly, a relationship with them can be a true partnership since they invest time and energy into a partner’s life, goals, and aspirations.
• Because they may need to get to know a partner intimately and deeply before committing, it’s easy for people to be themselves around The Dove. They are more likely to accept their partners for who they are since they’ve spent the time trying to figure this out already.
• It can be freeing to be with The Dove because their desire for space but not distance in a relationship helps keep the romance from feeling either overwhelming or unattached.

Challenges of being with The Dove

• They are slow to open up, which can be a challenge during the dating stage. Their initial wariness can come off as cold or unfeeling, making it difficult for partners to gauge their interest levels right off the bat.
• Since they’re looking for shared interests, emotional connections, and realistic compatibility, they may come off as critical or exacting in the initial phases of a relationship
• As relationships mature, they may put pressure on their partner to conform to their values or expectations of life together
• Their practical-minded approach may mean they want to discuss and work out everything from disagreements to their future plans to a degree that less practical-minded partners can find slightly challenging to navigate.

Compatible types

The Dove knows what they want and are practical and anchored enough to wait for the right person to come along rather than jump into relationships that aren’t a good fit.

They’re a good match with romantic people who can encourage them to be a little more spontaneous in their relationships without going overboard. Archetypes that have strong daring leanings may not give them the stability that they need and want. They’re likely to need more secure lovers.

Mature and well-developed, balanced versions of their own type are a good fit, too, although both partners would need to lean on their anchored, practical sides. Otherwise, they risk any stress and anxiety they may feel encouraging and stoking the flames of the stress and anxiety their partner may be predisposed to as well.

• IEPA
• ICPD
• ICRA
• IPCA
• TPCA

These types are unlikely to have ‘love at first sight’ feelings in the dating stage. Because they’re looking for stability and a practical fit, they may look at potential partners with a more critical eye, making them dismissive of people before they really get to know them.

Although they can work through most disagreements in a relationship with a sense of maturity, they’re likely to be more willing to do so with a partner that approaches conflict similarly.

This is because their practical, independent nature can make it difficult to navigate past fights that they believe are toxic to a relationship.

In some situations, they may begin to think that they’re a sign of incompatibility with their partner. For this reason, it may be advisable for them to remember that conflict styles differ and can change with time and in different situations.

Unhealthy adaptations

• Because of a practical, perceptive approach to potential partners, they miss out on relationships that may not initially seem like a good fit.
• Allowing a more anchored, pragmatic side to lead, puts them at risk of entering an ‘empty love’ relationship—one that begins for such practical reasons, it may not focus enough on finding true passion or romantic love.
• Letting stress and worry take over so they begin to feel at odds with their otherwise settled selves. This internal struggle makes them need, but not necessarily want more reassurance than usual, which can be a confusing change for their partners.

Struggles

• They may struggle more than other types with being vulnerable early on. They prefer when the other person takes the lead on milestones, especially in the early stages of a relationship, like saying “I love you” first or considering moving in together.
• It’s likely to be challenging to look past any roadblocks their pragmatic side may bring up after the dating stage.
• They may find it more difficult than others to commit until they’ve found the person they believe is right for them on both a practical as well as emotional level.

Because The Doves have more realistic expectations of romance, they’re capable of entering and sustaining relationships without putting too much pressure on them. They can balance their individuality and their relationship and help their partner do the same.

They’re not caught up in fantasies about the reality of long-term relationships. They know life is full of ups and downs, and because they spend time carefully choosing a partner, are likely able to move past conflict in love with grace.

The Doves love having and are good at carving out space to nourish these needs, do what they love, and grow their own lives outside of their relationships. Even though they like pursuing their own interests, they also enjoy sharing their lives with their partners and so can maintain their sense of selves while still accommodating their needs.

Healthy Adaptations

• With their practical and independent sides working in harmony, they’re likely to create synergistic relationships with their partner, investing in their lives without overwhelming them.
• With the ability to look at potential partners perceptively, The Doves can avoid wasting time with incompatible types, especially since they’re likely not interested in playing the field.
• When their independent and anchored nature leads the way, they may be able to handle disagreements with maturity, willing to work things out and move past them without letting resentment build.
• Able to tap into their vulnerability enough to connect on a deep, psychological and emotional level once they’ve found the right fit.
• They don't let resentments build. Their respect for individuality allows them to understand and accept their partner's opposing points of view (that aren't in direct contradiction with their values).

Because The Doves have more realistic expectations of romance, they’re capable of entering and sustaining relationships without putting too much pressure on them. They can balance their individuality and their relationship and help their partner do the same.

They’re not caught up in fantasies about the reality of long-term relationships. They know life is full of ups and downs, and because they spend time carefully choosing a partner, are likely able to move past conflict in love with grace.

The Doves love having and are good at carving out space to nourish these needs, do what they love, and grow their own lives outside of their relationships. Even though they like pursuing their own interests, they also enjoy sharing their lives with their partners and so can maintain their sense of selves while still accommodating their needs.

Healthy Adaptations

• With their practical and independent sides working in harmony, they’re likely to create synergistic relationships with their partner, investing in their lives without overwhelming them.
• With the ability to look at potential partners perceptively, The Doves can avoid wasting time with incompatible types, especially since they’re likely not interested in playing the field.
• When their independent and anchored nature leads the way, they may be able to handle disagreements with maturity, willing to work things out and move past them without letting resentment build.
• Able to tap into their vulnerability enough to connect on a deep, psychological and emotional level once they’ve found the right fit.
• They don't let resentments build. Their respect for individuality allows them to understand and accept their partner's opposing points of view (that aren't in direct contradiction with their values).

With a need for psychological closeness but an ability to maintain a sense of self while intertwining their lives with their partners, The Dove is a stable, anchoring force in a relationship.

One of their biggest strengths is being an emotional support system and full-time partner without forming unhealthy dependencies in a relationship.

• Know how to channel any worries and stress they may feel into more practical areas and put in the work to find a way to work out disagreements without playing the blame game.
• Independence and pragmatism help them accept when a relationship needs to end.
• A desire for interdependence that helps them seek out meaningful, fulfilling relationships.
• Unlikely to need too much reassurance from or have a desire to control their partner.
• Can keep their sense of selves and hold on to their own identities while also achieving oneness with their partner.
• Able to be a shoulder to cry on, a teammate, a lover, and a therapist all at once because of their desire for psychological and emotional closeness.
• Have a realistic perspective on love and life, and don't expect a relationship to be the answer to all of their problems.