Swiss formula for a successful marriage

Switzerland, as we all know, is famous for its watches and secret bank accounts. They are now famous for one more thing — you might have guessed cheese or chocolate, but no. They have come out with a formula for finding a perfect partner for a lasting and happy married life.

Conventional wisdom and human intuition still play a major role in marriages. But scientists say that these are inadequate in the present-day     global society. Science also has a role to play, they claim.

Statistics from around the globe show that the percentage of failures in second and third marriages is much higher than in the first. Most people think that they can get better partners the next time or the next. But things will turn uglier and uglier most of the time.

So, is there a perfect formula for finding a partner for a long, happy marriage? The answer seems to be yes according to serious researchers from Switzerland. They have suggested three criteria for selecting a partner for marriage.

The first two have been more or less the conventional wisdom in our society for centuries.

Here are the three.

One is that the boy should be five years older than the girl. Many sociologists supported this view citing the example of Queen Elizabeth of England and her husband the Duke of Edinburgh. The Queen is four years and ten months younger than him. But nobody is sure what exactly works here — the security of an older man or the charm of a younger woman?

The second is that both should be from the same cultural background. An Indian marrying an Indian is the maximum we can expect these days. The third one is the bombshell — The girl should be at least 27 per cent more intelligent than the boy.

Statistics come in percentages or in other more obscure ways, but simply put, the girl should be much more intelligent than the boy.

According to the experts in this field, the points in favour of this last one are: Intelligent women can absorb marital shocks better. Also, the emotional atmosphere at home is mostly at the mercy of the lady of the house. Any married man on Earth, Moon or Mars will vouch for it.

There could be evolutionary significance for women to be more intelligent in any long-term successful relationships. Men are biologically more prone to seek greener pastures if they get a chance. Intellectual ability in women can help maintain the bond tighter between the two.

The first two criteria are nothing new to us. But the third one on intelligence is indeed new. Or is it? In any case, women say that this is the easiest. Swiss research findings may or may not be as precise as their watches or as safe as their bank accounts.

But conventional wisdom and intuition tell us that the only sure shot way to avoid a divorce these days is not to get married at all.

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The New Indian Express
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