reeves84
December 23rd, 2002, 5:17:44 PM
http://www.newscientist.com/news/news.jsp?id=ns99993211
"Christmas magnifies interpersonal tension," says Lucas. The stress often arises when different personality types, such as the laid-back type and the anxious type, are forced to cooperate and get along in close quarters. So the rule for a stress-free Christmas is know thyself - and be prepared to compromise.
"A laid-back person can exasperate an anxiety-prone person because they leave everything till the last minute," says Lucas. "Some people do their Christmas shopping in May. They're the same people who'll arrive three hours before the airport opens if they're going on holiday." ..........
The presence of children adds a whole new dimension. Even if their little angels are plainly behaving like little devils, adult guests can get ratty if you take it upon yourself to discipline their children, for example. Lucas says that children do better in their "natural" environment and do not like being parted from their own toys and friends. ..........
Teenagers can prove to be the sulkiest creatures of all. "If you take a teenager with a boyfriend or girlfriend away with you, they're going to resent it," says Lucas.
"Christmas magnifies interpersonal tension," says Lucas. The stress often arises when different personality types, such as the laid-back type and the anxious type, are forced to cooperate and get along in close quarters. So the rule for a stress-free Christmas is know thyself - and be prepared to compromise.
"A laid-back person can exasperate an anxiety-prone person because they leave everything till the last minute," says Lucas. "Some people do their Christmas shopping in May. They're the same people who'll arrive three hours before the airport opens if they're going on holiday." ..........
The presence of children adds a whole new dimension. Even if their little angels are plainly behaving like little devils, adult guests can get ratty if you take it upon yourself to discipline their children, for example. Lucas says that children do better in their "natural" environment and do not like being parted from their own toys and friends. ..........
Teenagers can prove to be the sulkiest creatures of all. "If you take a teenager with a boyfriend or girlfriend away with you, they're going to resent it," says Lucas.