Even though Americans believe that love is the main foundation of marriage, we have to carefully examine what they mean by love.  When you find out that most who never have been married say they would like to be at some point in their lives even when statistics show most singles aren’t taken the big step, shows there is a disconnection between the above-mentioned statement and their decisions to not get married, especially when only 51% of adults were married in 2011, according to U.S. Census Bureau statistics.  In a research performed by the Pew Research Center, the romantic ideal of marriage plays out in survey data that show whether they are married or not.

When the Pew Research Center says that Americans are more inclined to choose “love” as a reason for marriage than any other factor, what they are really saying is that “romance” is what most Americans believe is the most important factor in a relationship.

How do we know this? Because In a 2010 Pew Research Center survey, they found out that “love” wins out over “making a lifelong commitment,” as well as “companionship,” “having children,” and “financial stability” as a very important reason to wed.  As you can see, in the people’s minds, making a lifelong commitment or provide companionship and having children or financial stability are not the same as love.  Somehow, our perceptions about love have been shifted toward a romantic, gut-feeling, emotional sensation in contrast with an idea of long-term commitment, sacrifice and investment.

Join our conversation and help us understand what love really mean and what the differences between love and romance are.

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