1 + 1 = 3 and Other Relationship Equations

There is a concept in physiology called synergism. It refers to interactions of hormones in the endocrine system. When two hormones combined effects are greater than their added effects, they are described using synergism. A good example of this is glucagon and epinephrine; when they are both released in the body, they increase blood glucose levels greater than each can individually. (1) Basically the principle says 1 + 1 = 3.

Just like a good relationship.

I just got married and there is something I admire about our relationship that I noticed when we were dating: individually we are nice people, but together we bring out each other’s strengths. My husband gets more extraverted and I get more charismatic. We get three times funnier and six times more interesting. And people like us so much we get free stuff, people want to hang out with us, and they compliment us.

For example:

One lazy Saturday morning were we the last to leave the gym and talking casually to the gym owner (we go to a small kickboxing gym). All the sudden his wife comes up to me and asks what size shorts I wear. After I respond, she pulls out a pair of shorts with the gym’s logo on it and hands it to me.

“Here!” she says, “you guys are just so awesome.”