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I debated about the title of this post, wondering whether my wording was too blunt a prescription for choosing a partner. But when it came down to it, I couldn’t find a more accurate alternative. Here’s why.
I’ve spent the last few years interviewing over 700 older people about love, relationships, and marriage (described in a new book on the topic). When I tried to convey their advice on this issue, however, behind me, I could hear these wise elders shouting this lesson to younger people: Don’t be dumb in choosing your partner!
Over and over, when it comes to marriage the elders point to decisions that completely ignore the evidence and show bad judgment. They believe there are a set of signs so strong and compelling that they tell you to get out of the relationship. However all too many people ignore the clear warnings and get married — and, the elders tell us, live through a horrendous period (or even an entire married life), suffering the consequences of that dumb decision.
Sifting through hundreds of responses, I learned about four warning signs that should make you very reluctant to commit to a relationship. Most people know these signs are wrong — but hope that they can change their partner or that they won’t matter. The elders say this self-delusion is a huge mistake. And please note: For those of you already in a relationship, these warnings still apply. They are a diagnostic tool for deciding whether your marriage needs a fix (or an exit strategy).
Warning Sign # 1: Violence toward you of any kind
Yes, this point may seem obvious. But I have to put it first and foremost, because entering marriage after experiencing dating violence is still shockingly common, despite decades of warnings from researchers, physicians, and counselors.
On this issue, the elders are unequivocal: If your partner hits you or tries to hurt you in any way, get out. If it happens while you are dating, they firmly state, it will happen in your marriage. As Joan, age 84, put it:
Don’t ever, ever get involved with somebody who is abusive at all physically, because you are asking for trouble. They may say that they are going to change and you may think that you will change them – News flash: you are not going to. I tried changing him and I gave up and left. I don’t care how many times person tells you they’re sorry and they’re never going to do that again. I think you find that they do.
I could spend a long time offering you detailed accounts from the elders who made the mistake of marrying someone who had been violent toward them, only to have the physical abuse escalate after marriage. But you probably know it already – make sure to act on it.
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Warning Sign # 2: Explosive and Unexplained Anger while Dating
The elders assert that a huge warning sign is explosive and unreasonable anger. They tell you to beware of a person who seems to “get angry over nothing” or “has a bad temper” — anyone whose anger is disproportionate to the situation.
Most important, be aware that these outbursts initially may not be directed toward you. During courtship, they say, people are can keep their anger toward their prospective partner under control. Therefore, you need to look carefully at how he or she responds to frustrating situations and to other people. Annette, 76, dodged a bullet with a man she was getting serious about. She told me:
I dated someone and I was in the subway with him in the city, and we missed the train because we were on the wrong side of the platform. We were walking up the stairs and he took a whole bunch of change out of his pocket and he said some terrible things and threw all of his money down the stairs because he was very angry that we had missed the train. And when that happened, I looked at that person and I said: “This is not a person I want to spend my life with!”
It only was a minute, but you know, it was very telling. You can tell what kind of a person a person is if you miss your plane, if you lose your luggage, if you are caught outside on a rainy day, or something like that. In those stressful situations if they’re going to just stand there and curse up a storm or throw something, ask yourself if want to spend your life with a person with those coping skills.
Warning Sign 3: Dishonesty — in things large and small
Everyone tells little white lies (in answer to things like “Do these pants make me look fat?”). But the elders say pay careful attention to someone who is dishonest. Clearly, dishonesty to you is a probably deal-breaker. As Pamela, 91, warns:
All the sudden not coming home. Lying about where they’ve been or been with or what they’ve been doing. Secret phone calls. All kinds of things like that. Trust is a big issue and once you lose that, it’s very difficult to regain. You might put it on the back burner but you’re always going to be suspicious.
Warning Sign 4: Sarcasm and Teasing
The problem with these two behaviors is that they are often portrayed as “just in fun.” When you get angry in response, you are accused of “not having a sense of humor.” The elders advise you to beware of anyone who engages in mean-spirited sarcasm or whose teasing crosses the border into aggression.
Barbara, age 70, left her first husband after a few years because she sensed the dark side that lurked behind his sarcasm:
Pay attention to behavioral signs. Somebody who is persistently, consistently, always sarcastic and critical, that should have been a warning sign to me that I was dealing with somebody who couldn’t function very well in the world. So I think that’s something that a young person can look for — this profound kind of sarcasm.
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Teasing is very dangerous. Teasing is like bullying. It demeans the other person, that kind of mocking behavior. It’s supposed to be kidding, but it’s a good warning sign, because it really devalues the other person.
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Nowadays the term “dumb” is considered an ableist slur.
It is a derogatory term for a speech-impaired person. In the activist, progressive and social justice communities, people are working to change the language and the disregard which is behind it.
Excellent article! I appreciate your amazing research and would like to discuss it with you further. My research is on the legacy of divorce and I have a few questions about your study. I’m also a writer for this site. You can contact me by leaving a comment on one of my blogs on my website – movingpastdivorce.com or emailing me at [email protected].
Thanks!
Terry
Amprenta thank you for sharing your story! It’s sad for us to read that you’ve had to deal with all 4, when just 1 is too much for many. Great examples that can others can relate to.. who knows, you may have an impact on even 1 person and change the course of their life for the better. I enjoyed this article.. it’s made me think of sarcasm and teasing in a different light. I already don’t condone being sarcastic or teasing towards your partner.. but I do have a sarcastic and witty sense of humour, so it was a… Read more »
I think you need tk be clearer on teasing. There can, and likely should be good natured teasing, you don’t with yourfriends and family, and your spouse should really be part of that same equasion.
I think it’s really a matter of what kind of teasing you are doing, and more importantly, how your spouse is responding to it. Being aware of that, is already a good step toward a successful relationship.
I think that for the first one one has to consider psychological violence also, or emotional abuse. And this can be very subtle at first and they can say that something is wrong with you for wanting to feel like you are their priority. Consider very carefully that maybe this person can’t deliver whatever you need to feel wanted, and no you are not needy because you want to spend 40 min alone on the beach with your boyfriend on your anniversary, can’t be emotionally available, can’t empathize with you, even though he is there for everybody else and is… Read more »
OMG what you just wrote here is my boyfriend to a tee. I kicked him out yet again yesterday and I’m hoping it’s the last time. I kept blaming myself for his bad moods and his emotional abuse. I was never good enough. He has completely changed who I am as a person and I’m a really strong person. These four signs are very real and very good advice. I’m somewhat glad to see I’m not alone in coping with this kind of person . Thank you for this article