In both fiction and reality, healthy relationships are built on "honesty, generosity, and curiosity," according to writers at The New York Times . In a storyline, these traits often serve as the "goal" for characters who may start with more difficult traits, like defensiveness or ego. Classic Romantic Archetypes

Modern storytelling has largely deconstructed this myth. We now see a rise in "anti-romances" or grounded dramas (like Marriage Story Normal People