"the couple might decide 'Even though neither of us wants to do this, we need to for the good of our relationship' as though the relationship itself had needs a

"the couple might decide 'Even though neither of us wants to do this, we need to for the good of our relationship' as though the relationship itself had needs and desires." The "as though" here doesn't follow or add anything useful. The couple could easily decide "neither of us wants to do it, but we need to get oil changes for both cars." That doesn't suggest the cars themselves have "needs and desires" in the sense that people do. I think considering "the relationship... as 'third person'" is pseudo-mystical nonsense.