If you’re single, why don’t you feel like going out on a date? That kind of thought is shared by many people.
Once upon a time, being single meant constantly searching for that one particular person. Every weekend, people planned dates in the hopes that someone would make them fall in love. It was normal—possibly even expected—that a single individual would seek a dating partner.
Those times may have passed. People are finding it less vital to have a partner as more and more of them feel enlightened and inspired to accomplish great things in life.
Now being single is just as socially acceptable as being in a relationship. Being unmarried for a long time is no longer even a consideration. It appears that Cupid might soon be unemployed.
A recent study offered some light on the reasons why so many people continue to lead single lives. Recent societal trends and technological advancements appear to be making dating more difficult. As a result, single people are refusing to go on any dates.
The Study Done by Pew Research Center
The research was carried out in October 2019 by Pew Research Center. The survey has 4,860 individuals from all throughout the United States who were chosen at random.
The poll was done online, although participants were chosen by phone and mail. Based on factors like age, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, and political party, participants were chosen from a variety of backgrounds.
The survey asked participants a number of questions regarding dating, the difficulties of dating, and their dating preferences. Some of the outcomes were what was anticipated, while others were completely unexpected. Over the past few decades, the dating scene has undergone a significant evolution.
Factors That Make Dating Harder These Days
About half of the participants said dating has been more difficult over the past ten years. Both men and women reported that it was harder than them, however more women did so. Online dating has grown so common because it lessens some of the burden associated with attempting to find dates.
The #MeToo movement is one of the main causes contributing to today’s dating difficulties. According to the report, almost 65 percent of males are unsure about how to act when out on dates with women in the #MeToo era.
Men have no idea what to do or how to go about doing it because women differ so much in what is considered acceptable.
Finding someone who wants the same kind of relationship as you is another challenge in dating. More than 50% of participants said that this factor is a concern. People have varied ways of defining relationships and going about starting one.
Trying to date someone who doesn’t seem interested in developing a relationship further might be stressful. To avoid wasting anyone’s time, it is crucial to discuss the direction of the relationship early on.
It’s unfortunate that many prospective relationships terminate there, forcing you to restart the dating process.
Navigating Differences Can Be a Challenge When Dating
Many other factors were deal breakers, even though the majority of individuals who were actively trying to date were okay dating persons of different ethnicities.
Dating can be difficult since people are so diverse from one another because you run into characteristics that you will never be able to tolerate. This is frequently the reason relationships stagnate.
Location and finances were significant factors for survey respondents. About 50/50 of them said they would be open to a long-distance relationship when questioned. The same applied to the issue of dating someone who had a big debt.
86 percent of participants said they would date someone who made much less money than they did, compared to 97 percent of participants who said they would.
Existing norms are acceptable. But being overly selective could prevent someone from finding their ideal companion. People could find dating a little bit simpler if they could learn to compromise a little more.
Why Singles are Less Inclined to Date These Days
The study found that half of the participants were not searching for a committed relationship right now.
The dating scene may suffer greatly if half the potential partners aren’t looking. You must enter the game with the understanding that one out of every two dates won’t result in anything. Those are bleak chances.
It’s intriguing to consider the reasons why singles aren’t looking to date. Being linked is no longer a priority because of the shift in societal expectations. In reality, more single people are living in the United States each year.
It’s not only an American issue, though. The number of marriages worldwide is declining annually in several nations.
The fact that research on singleness shows that single people are happier in more ways than not is one of the main reasons why people choose to remain single. It makes logical that scientific study showing the contentment of solitary life is influencing people’s perspectives on relationships because nobody wants drama in their lives.
One of the key findings of study is that single people value having the freedom to act without restraint.
Social psychologist and author Dr. Bella DePaulo, Ph.D., said the following:
“A happy life, a good life, is not just about love, not even the most expansive kinds. We humans also crave autonomy and mastering and purpose and meaning. Single people have that autonomy. They are in charge of their own lives.”
People find it simpler to move in the directions they need to when they strive harder and harder to achieve their goals, particularly career aspirations. They can relocate if a promotion requires them to do so in an other city. They don’t need to get advice from anyone else before making a big buy.
Two More Reasons People Stay Single
The topic of autonomy was covered in the preceding section. There are, however, a number of additional factors that have contributed to the popularity of single life among such a sizable portion of the population. Here are the top two justifications for singledom.
1. They are content with friends and family
Because being single means eventually feeling lonely and sad, society frequently pushes dating and marriage so strongly. This is the furthest thing from the truth.
According to a 2015 study that appeared in the “Journal of Social and Personal Relationships,” unmarried persons are more socially active than married people. They feel less alone because they spend more time with friends and family.
According to Dr. DePaulo, those who are single are more likely to stay in touch with their extended family members than those who are dating or married.
2. They are dissatisfied with previous relationships.
Sometimes people’s pasts have left them with such deep scars that they no longer want to be in a relationship.
Both positive and negative effects may result from this. It’s advantageous since they wish to put their attention on themselves and rediscover happiness. It’s awful because, in essence, present partners are being forced to pay for prior partners’ errors.
They are aware that they are not prepared to enter into another relationship in this situation. They might never be prepared for another relationship, depending on how bad the previous one was. At least in this way, they aren’t building someone up only to disappoint them later.