We are of the opinion that every couple is different. However, the purveyors of this study would beg to differ - they say that couples can typically be separated into four "commitment patterns".  Our sistas at Herfamily.ie stumbled upon the research which was conducted by the University of Illinois and led by Brian Ogolsky. He examined 376 unmarried couples in their mid-20s over the course of nine months and found that there were four distinct types of couples: Dramatic (30 per cent)  - This couple spends a lot of time apart and has plenty of ups and downs. Partner-focused (30 per cent) - In this couple, the person's partner is first priority over everything else. Socially involved (19 per cent) - This couple is very influenced by their network of friends and family, and experience little variability. Conflict-ridden (12 per cent) - This couple are argumentative, but experience less ups and downs than the dramatic couple. They are also more likely to stay together than the dramatic couple, however. Unsurprisingly, the study found that the partner-focused couple were most likely to progress in their relationship and were most committed to wed. The study found that the dramatic couple were most likely to break up out of the four patterns, followed by the conflict-ridden pair. Overall, it found that fluctuations in commitment were the biggest red-flags when it comes to a relationship's prognosis. What we take from this is - it's better to be constantly fighting than just sometimes fighting?! Consistency is key...