30 Fascinating Facts About Love & Breakups You (Probably) Didn't Know

• It only takes four minutes to decide if you like someone or if someone likes you. (BBC)

• Most breakups are announced on Mondays, happen right before Spring Break, and very few breakups occur on Christmas. (TED Talk by David McCandless)

• One study found that people who have recently fallen in love have some of the same symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder or OCD. For example, frequently washing their hands or repeatedly checking to see if the door is closed. (BBC)

• When we are interested in someone, it is because subconsciously we like their genes. (BBC)

• A ceremony that breaks the bank can also break your marriage. A study that couples whose weddings totaled more than $20,000 are 3.5 times more likely to get divorced than those who spent between $5,000 and $10,000. Couples who spent less than $1,000 on their weddings were the least likely to get divorced. (Emory University study)

• People whose parents were divorced are significantly more likely to divorce themselves, with 43 percent separating after ten years. (Salt Lake Tribune)

• Couples who have similar drinking habits are more likely to stay together. Researchers found that among couples in which one person was a heavy drinker and the other was not, 45 to 55 percent were divorced before their 10th anniversary. (University of Buffalo Study)

• After the age of 32, the chances of getting a divorce increase by five percent each year of age at marriage. They are more likely to divorce than those who tie the knot in their late 20s. (Nicholas H. Wolfinger)

• Physical attractiveness is associated with a higher likelihood of getting divorced. (Journal of Personal Relationships)

• Thirty-three percent of people who date online form a relationship, 33% do not, and 33% give up. (Base Hits and Home Run Relationships: What Women Wish Guys Knew by Trina Boice)

• Twenty-second hugs from your partner can reduce stress and trigger a significant oxytocin release. "Most married couples hug for three seconds or less," says Dr. Wendy Walsh, Psychology Professor, and Award Winning television Journalist. "So I advise them, two to three times a day, to stop what they're doing and hold a long, calm embrace. It can change your biochemistry, and you'll begin to bond again." (Journal of Behavioral Medicine)

• Researchers found that frequent kissing is more important to relationship satisfaction than frequent sex. (Study from Oxford University)

• The smell of someone could be as important as looks when it comes to the likeability factor. We typically like the appearance and smell of people who are most like our parents. (BBC)

• In a couple, the heart rates of a man and woman are in sync. Meaning that when you are involved in a romantic relationship, your heart will beat just as fast as your partner's. (International Journal of Psychophysiology)

• Men who cheat are likely to have lower IQs. (Express)

• Looking at a picture of someone you love can relieve pain. Researchers found that it can reduce moderate pain by about 40 percent and lessen severe pain by ten to 15 percent. (NY Times)

• Top reasons for wanting to end a relationship:
• Emotional distance (feeling like your partner has checked out of the relationship)
• Inequity (a power imbalance)
• A violation of expectations (cheating)
• A problem with some aspect of a partner’s personality.
• Attachment anxiety (relationship insecurity that develops from a fear of being rejected. (The Cut)

• Facebook-stalking your ex-romantic partner following a breakup may hinder emotional recovery. The more you stay connected with their ex on social media, the harder it will be to get over the breakup. (Journal of Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking)

• Post-breakup individuals experience self-concept change and reduced self-concept clarity. They not only feel pain over the loss of their partner but also changes in themselves. (Society for Personality and Social Psychology)

• Following a breakup, women experience more emotional distress, but they are more likely to recover fully. While men never fully recover — they merely move on. (Study from Binghamton University)

• Couples who are too similar to each other are less likely to have a long-lasting relationship. (Daily Mail)

• A 75-year study found that love is secret to a fulfilling life. (HuffPost)

• Studies show that happiness is contagious. Therefore, it can be difficult to walk away from a partner who is happy, or not love those who are happy mainly because they are so pleasant to be around. (Udemy)

• Heartbreak is a real thing. It is also known as broken heart syndrome, and the symptoms are similar to a heart attack. (Mayo Clinic)

• Workplace romances are more likely to result in marriage than a couple who met in any other way—even meeting through friends. (Daily Mail)

• If you cannot decide what to wear on a date, you should choose blue. Research shows that women are attracted to men in blue. (Base Hits and Home Run Relationships: What Women Wish Guys Knew by Trina Boice)

• A study has shown that more than two-thirds of single men on Match.com are interested in dating a single mom. (Match.com)

• One study indicated that about 70 percent of straight unmarried couples break up within the first year. (Bustle)

• Studies show that men are put off by groups of loud women. If a woman wants to get a date, she should probably steer clear from loud groups to give a man an opportunity to approach her. (The Real Man by Folorunsho Mejabi)

• Couples who continuously share new experiences report greater marital happiness rather than those who merely share enjoyable but familiar experiences. (NY Times)

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