Episode 277: What People Want From Relationships Today

In the not too distant past, most people followed the same relationship model and settled down into monogamous marriages pretty early in life. Today, however, people are spending more and more of their adult lives single, fewer are opting to marry at all, and those who do are waiting much longer to tie the knot. In today’s show, we’re going to delve into the modern sexual landscape and look at what people really want from relationships, including their attitudes toward casual sex, monogamy, non-monogamy, and infidelity.

I am joined once again by Tina Fetner, a professor of sociology at McMaster University. She is the author of the new book Sex in Canada: The Who, Why, When, and How of Getting Down Up North.

Some of the topics we explore in this episode include:

• How much has the marriage rate changed over time?
• Why are adults staying single for longer periods of time?
• If most singles want relationships, why does everyone seem to think that they don’t want them?
• Why are young folks increasingly concerned with telling a partner that they want to be exclusive?
• How many people in relationships are practicing monogamy vs consensual non-monogamy?

Make sure to check out Tina’s website to learn more and follow her on Instagram @tinafetner.

Got a sex question? Send me a podcast voicemail to have it answered on a future episode at speakpipe.com/sexandpsychology.

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The Kinsey Institute at Indiana University has been a trusted source for scientific knowledge and research on critical issues in sexuality, gender, and reproduction for over 75 years. Learn about more research and upcoming events at kinseyinstitute.org or look for them on social media @kinseyinstitute.

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