Too many animal references for me but I wanted to say this works on several levels.
keeping the R level manageable, it frees the other person and they become more and more comfortable being "relationshippy" because they learn they can trust the OP to not let the R develop.
It works when one wants to keep the R alive, the OS can just kick back and let the one that wants to keep the R alive do most of the work. The trust has to be there.
It's when the trust is gone the less interested person does some or all of the work.
