Getting married is a big step, and timing seems to be one of people's biggest concerns. Working together to find the best age to get married, math and science have come up with the rule “37%”.
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Women are constantly told that their eggs have an expiration date and that all men “good” they will disappear if they wait too long to find one. Now, you don't have to wonder if it's the right time to get married or not.
The figure comes from “The Computer Science of Human Decisions”, which was written by journalist Brian Christian and scientist Tom Griffiths. According to their book, people make the best decisions after examining 37% of the options, notes yourtango.com.
They use the example of job screening and argue that after looking at 37% of the people who applied, it would make sense to choose a qualified candidate without looking any further.
The study's authors say that at this point, those screening candidates have enough information to make a good choice, but not too many options to be overwhelmed by the decision.
This duo goes even further, saying that this rule also works when choosing a partner. The range in which people typically look for love is between 18-40, and the 37% mark is – you guessed it – 26.
After this, the quality of the options starts to decrease. However, many experts seem to agree that your 20s and 30s are the right time to get married. Psychologist Wyatt Fisher says the reason this time in your life is so ideal for settling down is because it's when you've already completed your education and started a career.
Clinical social worker Kelsey Torgerson says it's crucial to wait at least until the human brain is fully developed to find a life partner, which doesn't happen until age 25.
“I think it's best to wait until that milestone. It's also important to experience stressors with your partner that you both overcome, so if you have a high school boyfriend, you should see how you both fare in college, distance, studying abroad, or getting a work one. You want to know that you have the conflict management strategies for a healthy and successful marriage going forward.” she says.
Relationship therapist Weena Cullins believes the magic number is actually 28.
“In my experience, I have found that the best age to get married as a woman is 28. At age 28, my brides-to-be show confidence in their choice of partner. Most 28-year-olds have had time to successfully explore who they are personally and professionally, discover the qualities they most want in a life partner, and learn from mistakes they've made in previous relationships . You've had time to settle into a career, experience college and graduate school if that's your preferred path, or simply live independently before combining your lives.” she said.
And for men, Cullins believes the magic number is 32.
“Waiting until age 32 gives men the opportunity to establish a career and possibly pursue career advancement before getting married. It also gives them the opportunity to develop socially and emotionally through living on their own and dating. By 32, many men have spent enough time on the social scene to be able to make an informed decision about entering into a relationship. They also tend to have a sober outlook on having children and their role in the family. This is beneficial for the overall health of the relationship”Cullins added.
However, experts say if you're 25 and still single, it's nothing to worry about. Likewise, if you're 36 and still single, don't lose hope. While this whole situation seems pretty legit when backed up by science and math, there's still no surefire way to know what the secret age is for having a successful marriage.
