Romantic love: definitions, expressions, and psychological dimensions

Marriages

Arranged marriages are common in many societies of the world including India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Malaysia etc. In fact, according to a research, around 60% of marriages in the world are arranged by family or relatives. These marriages appear to have greater success rate as and in most of these marriages, partners do eventually fall in love with each other. These findings are reported by Dr. Robert Epstein, Editor of Psychology Today as he writes: "Sixty percent of the world's marriages are not love marriages -- they're arranged. Divorce rates are extremely low for such marriages, and, even more surprising, in perhaps half of them, the spouses somehow fall in love with each other." While low divorce rate is one of the best things about arranged marriages, these unions do have their downside as well. Since most of these marriages are arranged by people other than the two persons who are to get married, it's a huge gamble. You may know very little about your partner and may later discover that he/she was totally incompatible. With unions based on love alone, this can be avoided to a large extent however due to more expectations and a constant pressure to stay in love. On the other hand, most arranged marriages start off with fewer expectations which make it easier to build a relationship. It is also true that most people in arranged marriages do eventually fall in love as couples from those countries would testify. With love marriages the problem starts with each person wanting to stay in love as passionately throughout their time together. This is close to impossible because while love may stay and even grow stronger, it changes form. While it was once highly passionate and all about public displays, it may take a less aggressive form with the passage of time- and the couple might start doubting their feelings. However the truth of the matter is that even in this age or time, one can stay in love with one person for good provided both are willing to accept the fact that love will not always be about giving gifts, remembering each other's birthdays and kissing for no reason in a theme park.