Going to IKEA with your wife/husband can seriously end up in a fight. This argument, which under certain circumstances can lead to divorce, can take place either in the store or at home, during the assembly of the furniture (or even worse, in both places). It's not by accident that IKEA is characterized by psychologists as a "relationship death trap."
Every major shopping experience, especially when done with someone else, could ignite a conflict. On the one hand, the countless choices, and on the other hand, the merger of two people's "wants" can create the perfect storm. If you add to all this the (annoying) crowd of visitors, impatient kids, fatigue, and labyrinthine aisles, then the chances of a breakup increase dramatically.
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IKEA is aware of this "death trap," which is why they encouraged consumers to first study the catalog (its circulation has now been discontinued) and then make a stop at the restaurant to discuss the various alternatives they have. In fact, lately, they have been opening "pocket stores," which are smaller (with significantly fewer choices) and located within cities.
According to psychologists, the breakup can occur at any moment: during the visit at the store, while they put things in the trunk, or during the assembly phase (oftentimes the plain description, with pictures and arrows, at the assembly manual doesn’t help the situation).
Especially during the assembly of complex products (e.g. bed), stress, combined with fatigue, can lead to what experts call "the blaming game."