In front of a large audience Tuesday, Feb. 7, at O’Shaughnessy Education Center, Carol Bruess, director of family studies and co-author of “What Happy Couples Do,” entertained students and community members by sharing her research on happy partnerships.

Sophomore Jessica Scheu said that she isn’t in a relationship, but the content Bruess presented could still be related to friendships and roommates.

“I think you can compare it to other things,” Scheu said. “Just to be a happier person.”

Bruess spoke about the importance of humor to decrease conflict in relationships and connected with the audience through personal stories.

“When you start to tell a few of those stories, people really engage,” Bruess said.

In TommieMedia’s preview of Tuesday’s event, Bruess said that she would be disclosing one of the top three causes of conflict in relationships: chores.

“It’s taking out the trash, it’s scrubbing the toilets,” Bruess said. “It’s who’s caring for our child (and) putting gas in the car.”

At the end of her lecture, Bruess said that happy relationships benefit everyone.

“More happy couples, more happy people, better world,” she said.

Carly Samuelson can be reached at samu5380@stthomas.edu.