Your partner’s belief in your potential can in fact be a powerful form of motivation.
The viral “girlfriend effect,” which highlights men’s visible transformation after entering relationships, may have genuine psychological roots, according to FORBES reporting by psychologist Mark Travers.
Travers explained that the trend, popular on TikTok and Instagram, reflects two scientific concepts — behavioral concordance and the Michelangelo phenomenon — both showing how romantic relationships can spark mutual growth and self-improvement.
Behavioral concordance, he noted, refers to how partners naturally mirror each other’s habits. A study published in JAMA Internal Medicine found individuals were six times more likely to quit smoking if their partners did the same. “Change is contagious in proximity,” Travers wrote, suggesting that shared routines, diet, and lifestyle adjustments often emerge from emotional closeness rather than coercion.
The second principle, the Michelangelo phenomenon, describes how loving partners “sculpt” one another toward their ideal selves through affirmation and support. “Your partner’s belief in your potential can in fact be a powerful form of motivation,” Travers observed.
However, he warned that when improvement becomes a demand, the effect turns toxic. “The difference between healthy and unhealthy influence is autonomy,” he said, emphasizing that authentic growth must arise from shared values, not pressure or fear.