Science is here to save the day… or at least help you make some crucial life decisions. Tying the knot is a big step and timing seems to be one of people’s biggest concerns.
I mean, have you ever encountered one of those desperate girls who is out husband hunting just because the clock is ticking? It happens. And before you get all judgy, can you really blame them? Women are constantly told that their eggs have an expiration date and that all the “good” men will be gone if they wait too long to find one.
Working together to find the best age to get married, math and science have come up with the “37 percent” rule. According to this algorithm, the best age to walk down the aisle is 26.
There you have it. Now, you no longer have to fumble around wondering if it’s now or never. Getting hitched at 26 is apparently ideal.
The number comes from the Algorithms to Live By: The Computer Science of Human Decisions, which was written by journalist Brian Christian and cognitive scientist Tom Griffiths. According to their book, people make the best decisions after screening 37 percent of the options.
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They use the example of screening job applicants and argue that after looking through 37 percent of the people who applied, it would make sense to choose a candidate who was qualified without looking any further. The authors of the study say that it’s at this point where the reviewers of the applicants have enough information to make a good choice, but not too much that they will get weighed down by indecision.
It’s after this that the quality of the options begins to go down. Wompwomp.
If you are 25 and still single, don’t freak out. Likewise, if you’re 36 and still single, don’t lose hope. While this whole thing seems pretty legit when backed by science and math, there is still no sure way of knowing the secret age to having a successful marriage.
It’s all relative folks, but it doesn’t hurt to have something to base this wide and confusing world of love on.
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This article originally appeared on YourTango. For more like this from YourTango, try:
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FUCK. I’m 40. I fucked up hard.
Meanwhile, marriage rates are dropping like a stone.
Why? There could be a lot of reasons, but there is one expert who has her finger firmly on the pulse of the issue. Her name is Dr Helen Smith and she has written a book called “Men On Strike” which explains exactly why men are choosing not to participate in the dominant culture paradigms – including higher education and (most importantly) marriage.
Anyone who seriously cares about why marriage is failing should at least listen to her long interview (link below) and then perhaps read her book.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YpFN5KT8pzw
But if you’re 46 and still never married, you have to consider that any kids you consider having will still be teenagers when you’re 65. Oh well…