Here’s Why You Shouldn’t Live With Your Significant Other Before Marriage
Summary
TLDRThe speaker argues against cohabitation before marriage, citing evidence that it may lead to higher divorce rates. They discuss the stability of anti-social behavior, the implications of early sexual activity, and the psychological impact of non-commitment. They emphasize the importance of commitment, community support, and the transformative power of marriage as a container for personal growth. The necessity of faith in the unknown future of a relationship and the transformative potential of enduring vows are also highlighted.
Takeaways
- 📊 Cohabitation before marriage is associated with higher likelihood of divorce, contradicting the common belief that it is beneficial for couples to 'test drive' their relationship.
- 🧐 The correlation between cohabitation and divorce might be due to the fact that people who are more likely to divorce are also more likely to live together before marriage, indicating a potential pre-existing pattern.
- 🔍 The speaker suggests that the goal of learning about a partner and how to act in marriage is not effectively achieved through cohabitation, as it does not necessarily lead to a better or lasting marriage.
- 💔 Having a larger number of sexual partners before marriage is also linked to a higher probability of divorce, which the speaker finds intriguing.
- 👨⚕️ The speaker's research background in criminal behavior and anti-social tendencies includes the observation that early sexual behavior and multiple partners are markers for anti-social behavior.
- 🤔 The speaker speculates that early sexual behavior and multiple partners might be linked to a pattern of exploiting others, which could be unsustainable in a marriage.
- 💬 Men often use the argument that a 'piece of paper' is not necessary to indicate commitment, which the speaker criticizes as shallow and indicative of a lack of understanding of the significance of marriage vows and community support.
- 🤝 Marriage requires a commitment in front of a community and a higher authority, which can provide stability during difficult times, something that is not simulated by cohabitation.
- 👪 Cohabitation without marriage can lead to ambiguity about future plans, including having children, which can cause anxiety and uncertainty in a relationship.
- 🔥 Marriage is described as a container for transformation, requiring heat and pressure to change individuals for the better, a process that cohabitation does not facilitate.
- 🚫 Cohabitation is not a true simulation of marriage, and without the commitment of marriage, individuals may not experience the necessary desperation to change and grow in the relationship.
- 🕊️ Commitment in marriage is an act of faith, stepping into the unknown future with the hope and belief that the relationship will endure and grow stronger despite the lack of evidence for its success.
Q & A
Why does the speaker advise against cohabitation before marriage?
-The speaker advises against cohabitation before marriage because there is evidence suggesting it may lead to a higher likelihood of divorce, and it does not effectively simulate the commitment and challenges of marriage.
What is the speaker's view on the analogy of testing a relationship like a car test drive?
-The speaker rejects this analogy, emphasizing that people are not objects like cars and that such a comparison oversimplifies the complexities of human relationships.
What evidence does the speaker provide regarding the correlation between cohabitation and divorce rates?
-The speaker states that people who live together before marriage are statistically more likely to get divorced, which contradicts the common belief that cohabitation might reduce the risk of divorce.
How does the speaker connect cohabitation with anti-social behavior?
-The speaker draws a parallel between early sexual behavior and multiple partners, which are markers for anti-social behavior, and the likelihood of divorce, suggesting that a pattern of exploiting others might be a factor.
What does the speaker believe is the significance of making a vow in a marriage ceremony?
-The speaker believes that making a vow in a marriage ceremony is significant because it represents a public commitment to the relationship, in front of a community and a higher authority, which can provide support during difficult times.
Why does the speaker argue that living together before marriage might not help in learning how to be married effectively?
-The speaker argues that living together does not simulate the heat and pressure of marriage, which is necessary for personal transformation and growth within the relationship.
What is the speaker's perspective on the idea that a marriage is just a 'piece of paper'?
-The speaker criticizes this idea, stating that it reflects a shallow understanding of marriage and its significance as a vow and a public commitment.
According to the speaker, what message does cohabitation send about the couple's commitment to each other?
-The speaker suggests that cohabitation implies a provisional arrangement and a lack of permanent commitment, which can lead to instability and uncertainty in the relationship.
How does the speaker describe the necessity of faith in a marriage?
-The speaker describes faith in marriage as an act of stepping into the unknown, making a commitment without full evidence of its success, and believing in the potential for growth and transformation within the relationship.
What does the speaker believe is the alternative to commitment in a relationship?
-The speaker believes that the alternative to commitment is aimlessness, hopelessness, and confusion, suggesting that commitment provides a sense of purpose and direction in life.
How does the speaker view the process of transformation within a marriage?
-The speaker views the process of transformation within a marriage as requiring heat and pressure, which can only be achieved through the desperation of being bound together and the commitment to work through conflicts.
Outlines
🔎 Cohabitation Before Marriage: A Risky Proposition
The speaker argues against cohabitation before marriage, citing evidence that it correlates with a higher likelihood of divorce. They challenge the common-sense notion of 'testing the waters' by comparing a partner to a car, emphasizing that people are not objects. The speaker suggests that individuals inclined towards divorce may also be more likely to cohabitate, making it difficult to establish causality. They also touch on the idea that learning to be a better partner or spouse is not effectively achieved through cohabitation, and that having multiple sexual partners before marriage similarly increases the risk of divorce. The speaker then transitions into a discussion of anti-social behavior, noting its early onset and resistance to change, and draws a parallel between early sexual behavior and multiple partners as indicators of potential future relationship instability.
🤔 The Consequences of Cohabitation and the Nature of Commitment
This paragraph delves into the psychological and societal implications of cohabitation versus marriage. The speaker posits that cohabitation may communicate a lack of commitment and a willingness to 'trade up' if a better opportunity arises. They critique the notion that a marriage certificate is merely a piece of paper, arguing that public vows and community recognition are significant for the stability of a relationship. The speaker emphasizes the importance of enduring commitment during difficult times, suggesting that the absence of a formal commitment, as in cohabitation, can lead to a lack of resilience in the face of challenges. They also explore the idea that cohabitation can create ambiguity about future plans, such as having children, which can lead to anxiety and uncertainty within the relationship.
💔 The Illusion of Pre-Marital 'Practice' and the Importance of Faith
The speaker refutes the idea that cohabitation is a form of practice for marriage, stating that the two cannot be equated. They discuss Carl Jung's perspective on marriage as a transformative 'container' that requires heat and pressure to change individuals for the better. The commitment of marriage, according to the speaker, creates a sense of desperation that can lead to personal transformation. They argue that the inability to 'walk away' from a marriage is a catalyst for change and growth within the relationship. The speaker also introduces the concept of faith in marriage, suggesting that true commitment is an act of faith in the unknown future and the potential for growth that it holds.
🤝 The Transformative Power of Marriage and the Role of Commitment
In this paragraph, the speaker expands on the transformative potential of marriage, likening the commitment to a vow that treats one's partner as an extension of oneself. They share personal anecdotes about the importance of resolving conflicts within marriage rather than avoiding them, which can lead to a stagnant and unhappy relationship. The speaker asserts that the act of getting married is a necessary act of faith, requiring individuals to move into the unknown future together. They argue that this faith is essential for personal growth and the realization of a successful marriage, as it compels both partners to face challenges and change together.
🚫 The Folly of Non-Commitment and the Virtue of Faith in Relationships
The final paragraph addresses the consequences of not committing to marriage and the alternative of remaining uncommitted. The speaker argues that without commitment, individuals may feel aimless and hopeless, lacking direction and meaning in life. They advocate for the benefits of commitment, even in the absence of concrete evidence that it will succeed, suggesting that the act of committing itself is what can lead to success. The speaker distinguishes between blind faith and the type of faith that is necessary for a strong marriage, which is a conscious decision to invest in the relationship despite the uncertainties. They conclude by emphasizing the importance of this commitment for personal growth and the pursuit of a meaningful life.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Cohabitation
💡Divorce
💡Anti-social Behavior
💡Psychopathy
💡Commitment
💡Vow
💡Transformation
💡Faith
💡Community
💡Stability
💡Explotation
Highlights
Evidence suggests cohabitation before marriage is associated with a higher likelihood of divorce.
The common-sense approach to cohabitation as a 'test drive' is challenged by statistical outcomes.
Individuals with a history of cohabitation or multiple sexual partners may be predisposed to divorce.
The stability of anti-social behavior from early childhood and its link to early sexual activity is discussed.
Early sexual behavior and multiple partners are markers for anti-social behavior and potential criminal tendencies.
The concept of a psychopath as a predatory parasite is introduced, linking early promiscuity to exploitative tendencies.
Cohabitation without marriage may communicate a lack of full commitment and openness to 'trading up'.
The emotional impact of cohabitation on women and the societal risks associated with casual sexual activity are highlighted.
Marriage as a vow and community commitment is emphasized as crucial for enduring relationship challenges.
The metaphor of marriage as an alchemical container for transformation under heat and pressure is presented.
The necessity of enduring the transformative process within marriage, rather than avoiding conflict, is discussed.
The act of faith required in marriage and its distinction from blind faith or naivety is explored.
Commitment in marriage is posited as a means to draw out the best in both partners through mutual dedication.
The alternative to commitment is described as aimlessness, hopelessness, and a lack of meaning in life.
The importance of making a real commitment, rather than a simulated one through cohabitation, is underscored.
The applause indicates audience approval and resonance with the speaker's perspective on marriage and commitment.
The transcript concludes with a reflection on the delusional and potentially harmful nature of avoiding commitment in relationships.
Transcripts
can you please elaborate on why you
advise against cohabitation before
marriage
well
so why would I advise against
cohabitation before marriage well the
simple answer to that question is
there's plenty of evidence that it's a
bad idea
and and I just mean factual evidence to
begin with although I think there are
other reasons
um
people who live together and then get
married are more likely to
get divorced not less likely and that's
a really interesting fact because it
flies in the face of
what you might think of as a kind of
pragmatic common sense you know because
you might think
well you don't buy a car without
taking it out for a test drive
[Laughter]
right and everyone laughs because that
seems obvious but then you know
woman's not a car
[Laughter]
and and neither is a man and really like
seriously
really not an object
and so it isn't obvious at all that that
metaphor applies even though it's
at first shallow glance it's
it seems obviously true well but if it's
obviously true then you might say well
why do people who live together why are
people who live together before they get
married more likely to get divorced and
one possible answer to that is well
people who are more likely to get
divorced are the same people who are
more likely to live together rather than
to get married and that's possible it's
very difficult to separate those two
things so but in some sense it doesn't
matter
what the facts reveal is that if the
goal is to
learn what you need to learn so that you
can decide who you should marry more
effectively or learn how to act if you
do get married more effectively and the
goal is that your marriage will be
better and last then it doesn't work
and so and that's a strange truth
and then you might ask yourself well why
why doesn't it work it's also the case
by the way that
the more sexual partners the larger the
number of sexual partners that someone
has had before they get married the more
likely they are to get divorced as well
and that's also it's also the okay the
case by the way and this is also
interesting
so I spent a lot of time studying
criminal behavior in all sorts of
different manifestations some of it on
the political front with regard to the
behavior of people who committed
terrible atrocities in the service of
political belief
some of it
on the
like the frontier of of criminal sadism
itself I spent a lot of time
studying the behavior of of serial
killers and and mass tortures and people
like that
but I also spend a lot of time
as a research scientist looking at
what psychiatrists and psychologists
know as anti-social behavior and
anti-social behavior is the pattern of
behavior that characterizes criminals
and
it's it usually makes itself manifest
pretty early in life
perhaps as early as two years old by the
way
and it's once it's established it's
extremely stable it's
it's
it isn't
obvious at all that psychologists or
psychiatrists
have
learned anything about how to remediate
anti-social Behavior so criminal
Behavior or its precursors in childhood
once it's there that especially seems to
be the case after about four years of
age once it's there
it's
unbelievably stable and resilient to and
resistant to change
and it has a lot of
different aspects anti-social Behavior
but one of the markers for anti-social
Behavior
delinquency childhood conduct disorder
early onset criminality is
early sexual behavior and and multiple
partners
and so
you know you can take that for what it's
worth
why is that the case
you could speculate
someone who's
oriented in a criminal direction is more
likely to take advantage of someone else
for their own gratification I think
that's the basic commonality I don't
know that for sure
because we don't know why these
different symptoms of criminality let's
say
linked together apart from the fact that
criminals are predators and the Really
pathological criminals are predatory
parasites and that's really what defines
the psychopath by the way is a predatory
a psychopath is a predatory parasite
um
the archetypal psychopath is a sadistic
predatory parasite so the sadist takes
Delight in the pain of others so
positive pleasure in the pain of others
the predator
uses others to their own advantage and
the parasite
takes no responsibility for his or her
own
existence and
manipulates or compels others to serve
that goal and so that's kind of an ugly
combination of traits and one of the
core elements of that is
early multiple partner promiscuity
and so
that's
that's interesting and that also might
explain why
more pre-marriage sexual partners
increases the probability of divorce is
that it's a marker for
the pattern of behavior that
is characterized by the exploitation of
others and is therefore
more likely to be unsustainable over the
medium to long run
so that's interesting then you can think
about it
kind of think about it metaphysically
I thought about this or philosophically
I thought about what is it what are you
telling someone
when you live with them
okay so I've talked to lots of people
women
who are cohabiting with men
are generally not very happy about the
fact that the relationship is not moving
towards marriage now I think the reason
there's a bunch of reasons for that
women seem to suffer more
emotionally as a consequence of sexual
activity outside of a committed
relationship you can imagine why that is
women experience more negative emotion
than men on average in general but also
women pay a much higher sex is much
riskier for women than it is for men
obviously
hopefully I don't have to explain why
that is
so
and so women are often not for women who
are cohabiting are often less than happy
about that and the men who I've talked
to about
that
with about their partners
displeasure with the current
unstable nature of the relationship
often say something like well we don't
need a piece of paper to
indicate our commitment to each other
which sounds all
revolutionary and Shea Guevara but which
is
really a pretty pathetic bit of
reasoning first of all
for someone to say that means they think
that what they just said convinces you
that all marriage is is a piece of paper
and that's
that's a preposterously foolish argument
I mean at minimum
in the typical marriage ceremony
you make a vow by whatever is Holy to
you or at least in front of the state
itself
and then in front of your community as
you define it that you're going to make
a commitment to someone and if you think
that's nothing
then you're probably the sort of person
that the person you asked
to marry you should run away from
so
so that's pretty shallow
and then you might ask well why do you
need to commit to your partner
in front of your community and a higher
authority let's say and the answer is
well life is really really difficult and
you're going to have rough time with
your partner no matter how much you love
them because the two of you are
different and you're different sexually
and you're different temperamentally and
so you're not going to see eye to eye
all the time and then horribly difficult
things are going to come your way and
they're going to
the complexity of those difficult things
is going to tempt you to pull apart
and exactly when pulling apart might be
the worst possible thing for you and
maybe you need that vowel before your
community and God himself let's say or
at least the state
and The Vow that you've made to yourself
and your partner and The Vow that you've
made publicly to all your friends to
keep you together when the going gets
rough
and you might say well you don't need
that
and I would say well that's just because
the going hasn't got rough enough for
you yet because when it does get that
rough you'll bloody well know that you
needed that that's for sure and that
will definitely happen to you
thank you
that will definitely happen to you if
you marry someone because all the things
that life can throw at you
will be thrown at you in the course of a
marriage
and so
the vowel
and the community commitment you don't
just throw that away casually and you
certainly don't say well that's just a
piece of paper you know what do I need a
piece of paper to validate my love it's
like your love's Not Great is it you're
really that much of a saint that this
person they can just you say you love
them and oh man they're just done
they're in Bliss they're in Paradise for
the rest of their life they can just
rely you're never going to waver now
that you expressed your love you're just
going to be there 100 of the time you
don't need anyone else to help you you
don't need a vow you don't need any
tradition so your love is so pure and
holy that that other person they just
rely on you from that second onward no
hesitation it's like yeah right
that's just complete bloody rubbish you
can't even rely on yourself in
relationship to yourself
for that so
[Applause]
okay so next
what are you telling your partner well
as far as I can tell if you live with
someone here's what you're saying to
each other
you're the best I can manage at the
moment
and maybe the same applies to me for you
and uh we both really don't want to take
on any more responsibility than
necessary Plus
we both want to have the option of
trading up if it opportunity comes along
and so why don't we just
make do with this provisional
arrangement
well we cast our eye out into the
broader world and see if we can fish
something better in
and
you know you can say I'm cynical about
that but I don't think I'm cynical about
that I
because living together means something
like well we're not permanently
committed and not permanently committed
means well we're impermanently committed
and impermanently committed means
we're looking for a better commitment or
or perhaps to be alone but forget that
because that's usually not true well
what kind of basis is that to have a
relationship with someone how are you
going to found a relationship on that
especially an intimate relationship
how is that going to work it's like
you'll do for now
I I don't think that's a very solid
foundation to
to move forward
to to allow you to move forward and then
it's indeterminate too is well if you're
just living together do you have kids
because that's a commitment that's for
sure and that's a real commitment or it
better be and it's going to be
inevitably anyways and so if there's
ambiguity about your commitment to each
other there's going to be ambiguity
about
your plans for children and that's a
huge ambiguity in most relationships so
that's not helpful that just means
neither of you know what the hell you're
doing and that provokes anxiety and
uncertainty and it and it it decreases
hope because hope is experienced in
relationship to a goal and if the goal
is ambiguous maybe we'll have kids and
maybe we'll not well then there's no
real hope there and so that seems to be
a pretty decent Pathway to misery
so
and then the next issue is
and this is the final one that I'll
discuss is
you're not married if you're living
together
and so you might say well you're
practicing being married it's like no
you're not why because
it's not something you can simulate
so one of the things I learned from
Reading Carl Jung Jung thought about
marriage as a container as an outcome as
a container for alchemical
transformation as a container
that would produce a heat so intense
that the base metal of your psychic
could be transformed into something
ideal but it had to be a container that
could take could take heat because it
requires heat to transform
and you might say well how much heat
does someone as base as you need to
transform and the answer might be a lot
of heat I need a lot of heat and
pressure before I'm going to change
before I'm going to become purified in
any real sense
and so what's the heat and pressure
here's what it is you don't get to run
away
you're stuck with that person
and they're stuck with you and you made
a vow it's like oh
I'm stuck with you
just like I'm stuck with me and and and
and The Vow is exactly that right in
some real sense The Vow is I'm going to
treat you like you're me
and you don't even like yourself very
much so
that's a vicious vow and so you might
say well how desperate do you have to be
when confronted by someone else to
change your ways and the answer might be
well you have to be as desperate as
being Shackled to someone makes you you
know one of the reasons that Tammy and I
have gone along and are still together
is because
we both know that
we're stuck with each other
and so
and so we decided quite a long time ago
that we didn't want to have the same
stupid fight every day for the next 40
years
and so and that's like the definition of
a bad marriage it's like we're having
the same fight every day for 40 years
that's hell and so the alternative is
now let's just have a bloody fight Right
Here and Now
and see if we can sort out whatever the
hell is so stupid about us that's
keeping us in this dismal hell and why
well because otherwise
we're just stuck with this misery and if
you can walk away and if you can leave
which you can if you're not bound
together then you're not gonna
withstand the horrible process of heat
and pressure that's required to make you
transform
you'll just walk around that you'll just
look for an excuse I mean people look
for an excuse not to do that anyways and
so
part of the reason you get married is so
you're desperate enough to change
and and maybe that doesn't even work
[Applause]
so those are the reasons you
those are the reasons that
no there's there's one more there's one
more
this is the next thing
it's it's a necessary Act of Faith
and you know in our culture
because we're not very wise
we think that faith means especially
when it's
parodied as religious faith we think
faith means the willingness to suspend
disbelief while swallowing a proposition
that any fool would reject that's often
how the rationalist atheists view
religious claims
faith means the suspension of your
rationality and the acceptance of an
an absurd claim
but that isn't what faith means not
really
faith is what makes
movement into the unknown possible and
you need to move into the unknown
because that's where you're moving
and because the unknown is unknown
because the future is unknown you cannot
step forward into the unknown without
faith
it wouldn't be unknown if you knew it
if you knew it it wouldn't require Faith
but you don't know it and so
you step forward into the unknown future
as a consequence of your faith in some
principles and if you love someone if
you fall in love with someone and you
decide to marry them
you don't have the evidence at hand that
that's the right person for you
what you have instead is the joint
decision that come hell or high water
you're going to struggle forward
together
and then you don't even know if that's
the right decision
because you're not going to know until
you're
till you've been married like your whole
life you're not going to have the data
and so you do have to throw yourself
into the abyss
to be married
just like you have to throw yourself
into the abyss to be alive
you have to move forward in faith and
then you might say well how do you call
the best out of yourself and out of your
partner that maybe a partner that you're
fortunate enough to love and the answer
might be by
offering them the gift of faith and by
saying look you know flawed as we both
are
if we commit to each other
we have the possibility of becoming more
than we are
and I'd like to do that with you even
though there's no evidence that it's
going to work
and but then you might think too the
more deeply you're committed to that
faith the more likely it is to work and
you can't find out what that commitment
is without the commitment and so you
can't simulate it by living together
because it's not real
it's not real until you make the
commitment
and so
and then I would also say well what if
you don't make the commitment
well then you're not committed
and and you might say well why should I
be committed well what's the alternative
it's to be uncommitted well
are you free then
or are you just aimless and hopeless and
Confused
and
you admire people who are committed to
something you sort of wish yourself when
when you're feeling aimless and you feel
that your life is meaningless you might
think well I really wish I was committed
to something wouldn't it be nice to be
committed to something it's like well
commit to something then
and you say well I don't have the
evidence it's like you don't commit
because of the evidence you commit
because of faith and there's foolish
Faith you know there's naive faith and
there's Blind Faith and I'm not talking
about any of that I'm talking about
stake in your life on something that
might work if you just
if if God was willing if the Fate smiled
on you and you put your whole soul into
it
and
that's what you do
when you vow to
stay faithful to someone and you can't
simulate that it says it doesn't work so
there's like five reasons why it doesn't
work and me I don't know if you find
those reasons compelling or not but I've
thought about them a lot and I
you know maybe there's a part of me that
wishes that isn't how life was and that
you could just
have a casual relationship with someone
and then trade them in on someone better
if they happen to come along but
I just don't believe that's
that's delusional to believe that at
best and it's like
machiavelle and Machiavellian
Psychopathic and narcissistic and
criminal at worse
and so
[Applause]
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