This article was created out of a relationship study conducted by Avvo, to better understand how the law intersects with people’s lives, and the issues people face when engaging with attorneys and the legal system. Given that divorce and family law are two of the largest and most routine needs for legal help, understanding the relationship dynamics that lead to marriage, divorce, and family planning is essential for us to better serve our readers. Go here for more details on the study, and check the links at the bottom of this article to learn more about the results.
In today’s modern dating climate, some men and women are willing to do whatever it takes to meet the right person, including professional matchmaking. When asked if they’d be willing to have a professional relationship expert match them up with a romantic partner, one in four (28%) said “why not?”
“The fact that such a large number of men and women are open to being matched by a match-maker illustrates how hard it is to find a mate in today’s society, and the lengths modern daters are willing to go to find that right partner,” according to noted sociologist and renowned sexologist Dr. Pepper Schwartz. “It’s not that people have lost confidence in their own ability to find someone, but rather that they recognize how valuable their time is, and they’re open to new ways to meet someone in order to find companionship and spend their time in a satisfying relationship.”
Even people in relationships think that being professionally matched sounds like a decent idea—27% of people who are in a relationship or married say that, if they were single, they could see themselves signing up for a matchmaking service. The length of time that someone has been in a relationship can play a factor in their openness to a matchmaking service: 42% those who’ve been in a committed relationship for one or fewer years say yes to an arrangement, whereas 33% of those in relationships lasting two to seven years, and 23% of those in relationships for eight or more years, say the same.
Those open to professional matchmaking seem to be more open to other less traditional methods of meeting a partner, such as online dating. Half (53%) of those who show interest in a professional matchmaker also believe that online dating is a great way to meet a romantic partner, whereas only 23% of those not open to professional match-making think online dating works.
Once in a relationship, 84% of Americans agree that time, not money, is what makes a relationship successful. Only 13% believe that investing more money makes a relationship great. Men are more likely to believe that the money you put into a relationship determines how well the relationship goes, with 16% of men saying what you spend on a relationship determines success, versus 11% of women.
Those in a relationship have different views than those who are single. 87% of those currently in a relationship say investing time into a relationship determines what you get out of it. 78% of those not in a relationship say the same.
“In this time-pressured culture, time is worth its weight in gold. We are so pressed for time—quality time to look for love, enjoy, and nurture it—that we really do understand that its scarcity is hurting us,” added Schwartz. “Of course, you need to recognize that money can make a relationship easier by eliminating external stressors. But people with and without a lot of money understand that just having money will not buy you, nor your relationship, happiness.”
See below for more details and insights from the survey data:
- New Avvo survey explores modern attitudes on love, sex, and dating
- Avvo study: men take blame for divorce more often than women
- Avvo study: legality of same-sex marriage has triggered a shift in attitudes
- Avvo study examines new attitudes around open relationships
