In the 1600s, John Donne wrote, “No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main.” While Donne was waxing poetic about the human condition, his fundamental premise applies to our everyday lives. Whether a spouse, family member, or friend, we’re frequently at home, work, or out and about with other people.
And at any time we may find ourselves in a potentially life-threatening situation. However low the probability, we might someday be faced with a carjacking, robbery, or an active killer. As stressful as it might be when alone, the stakes are even higher when a loved one is also involved. On the other hand, having a partner to work with is a force multiplier, with the potential to significantly increase your collective capabilities and survivability compared to operating alone.
However, being able to cooperate smoothly with a partner is hard enough in regular life, much
