How Many People Should You Date Before Settling Down
Whether it’s a house, a job offer, or a partner, there’s always that one question in the back of your mind: What if something else better comes along? When it…
NEW YORK – MAY 28: Single New Yorkers chat during a HurryDate speed dating event May 28, 2003 in New York City. Speed dating is a trend in New York, pitting dozens of singles together for dozens of short “dates” in an evening. Participants fill out cards if they’re interested, and event organizers e-mail any resulting matches. (Photo by Chris Hondros/Getty Images)
(Photo by Chris Hondros/Getty Images)Whether it’s a house, a job offer, or a partner, there’s always that one question in the back of your mind: What if something else better comes along? When it comes to dating, mathematics and psychologist have come together and developed a formula to help you determine how long you should spend “sampling options” before settling down with the best match possible. The answer? 37%.
The 37% rule works like this: If you’re making a decision with 100 different options, you should hold off on the first 37 before finally deciding. This 37% isn’t random by the way. Experts believe that by this point, you should have a pretty good idea of what’s working and what’s not and you’ll be able to set a certain standard.
To apply this to dating, say you go on 10 dates. The first three dates shouldn’t be taken too seriously. According to the 37% rule, your fourth date should be a keeper.
The principle is that you're exploring different types of personalities and experiences before settling down.
