Do Men Fall in Love Faster?

Ever see a woman and instantly know that you want to be with her? (Imagining you two between the sheets doesn’t count—we’ve all experienced that.) Well, you’re not alone, according to a recent online survey.

The survey, conducted for the new novel When You Were Mine, found that 20 percent of British men have experienced love at first sight, compared to just 13 percent of women. What gives? Are men really more likely to fall head over heels?

In short, yes. “Men are more visual,” says Helen Fisher, Ph.D., professor at Rutgers University, and author of Why We Love. “Men are biologically programmed to choose a healthy woman to bear children, while women choose men based on whether or not they’ll be good fathers.” So what? This means that men are more likely to fall in love based on looks and first impressions, she says. It would take a woman longer to determine if you’d stick around to raise children.

But how do you know your latest love will last? Here are some indicators of a long-lasting relationship:

She’s fun

Sure, the hot woman at the other end of the bar is, well . . . hot, but it won’t work if you can’t have fun together. A University of Denver study found that couples were happier if they enjoyed similar activities—and actually made time to do them together. If you’re prone to falling in love quickly, surround yourself with people who have similar interests, so you’re more likely to enjoy activities together. Join a book club, sign up for a co-ed sports team, or meet women in the gym.

You both like happy hour

A University of Buffalo study found that differing drinking habits increased a couple’s likelihood of divorce, and not because one partner was a raging alcoholic. “Similar drinking patterns reflect similar patterns of socializing,” says study author Gregory Homish, Ph.D., and professor at The State University of New York at Buffalo. It’s even better if you have the same taste in bars and Saturday night activities. “More similarity suggests more compatibility,” he says.

She went to college

“College-educated couples are twice as likely to stay together, compared to when neither partner is educated,” says W. Bradford Wilcox, Ph.D., and director of the National Marriage Project. “They’re more financially stable, which is important because money problems are a leading cause of divorce.” That doesn’t mean you should panic if there’s not a diploma on her wall. “Couples should have weekly budget meetings to review expenses and make sure they’re both on the same page,” says Wilcox. And make shared investments. “This helps you look forward to a shared financial future.”

Reposted from http://news.menshealth.com

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