img from Public Domain PicturesI totally get this. We talked about it on GLR. People really don’t know if they’re a couple or not. I thought it was easy, I thought it was obvious, but apparently its not. Younger couples don’t easily know when they’re sexually exclusive. It seems more and more research is on whether or not people understand monogamy, and keeps emphasizing how important sex is. Yes, there’s a romantic, intimacy involved in the undertones, but really, its about the sex. That’s what sells, but that’s also our fuel. We thrive on it, and we live off it, so it makes sense. We also thrive off of intimacy, but anyway, that’s not what we’re talking about.
Think back to your relationship, past and present. When did you know you were exclusive? Did you guys talk about it? Most people who are in relationships apparently don’t even know that they’re exclusive. There’s no idea that monogamy is a part of the deal, which boggles my mind. Did you know you weren’t supposed to be with anyone else or was it implied? When I was in a relationship I think there was a mutual understanding and we talked about it. Hell, we made sure to discuss it I guess. I mean, we made it official verbally, that we wouldn’t be with anyone else, physically or emotionally.
Okay, so being a Psychology major, and learning a lot about studies and the like, the sample size is pretty small. Less than 500 people were a part of this study, which, if you think about it, is like less than 1% or 1% of the population. Okay, maybe that’s an exaggeration, well, actually I think its less then that. I’d do the math, but with over 6 billion people, that’ll take me awhile. So, as you can see, you can take it for what its worth, but I think it speaks volumes if even our own Dave the Drummer needed help figuring out when you know you’re a couple.
I hate to harp on the same advice, but seriously, how do couples not talk to each other? I would think it’d be fairly simple to just say, hey, we’ve been dating for awhile, and I was curious…are we together? That may sound juvenile, but how else would you like to approach it? You need to really find out, because if you’re not monogamous, then if you’re so inclined, why not take advantage of it? If you’re looking for a relationship, don’t waste your time with this person who doesn’t want to be monogamous, just yet. Yeah, I know, I make it sound so simple, but much like everything in life, nothing is going to be just given to you. You have to work for it. People fall in love without effort, but keeping the love takes work.
If you’re looking for an open relationship or at least not ready to settle down, then you better make your intentions clear. I feel like, I don’t need to say this, but I think a lot of people just assume that the other person thinks the way they do. If you think you’re not in a relationship, you may think who you’re dating thinks the same thing. All I’m saying is, people, just talk to each other. That’s all. I love these articles because it just really keeps hitting that message home. So please, take a second and actually LISTEN to that message.
via: Science Daily: Young Couples Can’t Agree on Whether They Have Agreed To Be Monogamous
