TY  - JOUR
AU  - Liu, Xinying
PY  - 2026
TI  - Stochastic modeling of intimacy-conflict dynamics in non-traditional stable marriages
JO  - Electronic Research Archive
SP  - 376
EP  - 410
VL  - 34
IS  - 1
AB  - Most prior couple dynamics research has focused on either high-conflict, low-stability relationships or low-conflict, high-stability relationships, relying predominantly on deterministic models. We investigate the stability of the far-less-studied dynamically balanced regime characterized by recurrent small conflicts, occasional large conflicts, and spontaneous repair processes in an intrinsically stochastic environment. An intimacy–conflict model couples dual stochasticity: event timing follows independent Poisson processes, and impact magnitudes follow uniform distributions. Formal proofs establish the existence and uniqueness of solutions, bounded states within    [  0  ,  1  ], stochastic stability of intimacy around its baseline, and convergence to a unique stationary distribution. Simulations show that intimacy drifts back to its usual level, that the impact of each event depends on the couple's current state, and that built-in repair keeps the system steady while mirroring real-life ups and downs. The study extends theory on conflict–intimacy coevolution and provides a framework for marital research and intervention.
UR  - https://doi.org/10.3934/era.2026018
DO  - 10.3934/era.2026018