From the book:

Stress and the Care of the Self

Mandala Key Exercise

The Roots of the Tree
(finding your purpose and passion)

The Fruit of the Tree

(Changing your life)

The Layers of Marriage

The Marriage Survey

Newsletters
January 09
February 09
 

How to Live Without Losing Your Life


  Other Writings










45 - 50 years of age

The majority of respondents 45 to 50 years of age earned an average of 40-100,000 dollars, worked 40 to 60 hours a week and had a Master's Degree.

They spent an average of 5+ hours a week with friends, and the majority had at least one parent who was deceased.

The majority of them knew people who had been married for 25+ years, and the majority of the respondents in this age range were evenly in a monogamous relationship or married.

When asked to rate the truth of the following statements:
  • I am a good person.
  • I am a good listener.
  • I have a good life.
  • I am a good lover.
  • I am a good friend.
  • I am a good partner in a relationship.
  • I am a good worker.

100% of the respondents in this age category felt that all of these statements were most likely true.

The majority of responders felt that the statement, I like spending time alone, was somewhat true.

The majority spent 5+ hours a week watching Drama and Documentaries on television, and spent an average of 4+ hours a week alone.

75%% reported rarely buying on impulse.
54% said they did not use recreational drugs (including nicotine).

50% felt that they did not have a religious identity, and 55% of these never attended services with the rest attending on daily only in a religion different from the one they were raised in.

80%of this age group reported feeling a strong political identity.

The majority of this age group reported voting only in the presidential election within the past four years with 50% choosing to participate in other elections.

75% of this age group considered themselves to be well informed on current events.

When asked to rate the truth of the following statements:
  • I do not mind change.
  • I do not fear dying.
  • Silence in conversation does not bother me.
  • I enjoy other people's company.
  • Other people like me.
  • I am comfortable with the way I look.

The majority of responders in this age group felt like these statements were somewhat true.

There was no consensus on the truth on the following statement, I look forward to getting older, with equal parts feeling the statement was mostly true or mostly untrue.

There was no consensus on the truth on the following statement. Equal numbers of this age group felt these statements were completely false, completely true and neither false or true:
    • Marriage is a privilege.

The majority of this age group felt the following statements were most likely untrue:
  • Marriage is an outdated institution that encourages romantic illusions.
  • Marriage was originally a business and diplomatic arrangement which serves no purpose today.
  • Marriage is a sign of the emotional maturity.
  • Marriage is a necessity to economic success.
  • Marriage is a moral union formed within a chosen faith
  • Marriage is a patriarchal invention that is based on the suppression of women's rights.
  • Marriage is a creation of institutionalized churches to control populations through guilt associated with sin.


The majority of this age group felt the following statements were most likely true:

  • Marriage is a legal union that grants certain economic and legal rights to its members.
  • Marriage is a social institution that grants social validity to a relationship not otherwise available.
  • Marriage is a celebration of commitment to each other and a promise to remain together.
  • Marriage is a universal right.
  • Marriage is a religious rite
  • Marriage is one of the 'rites of passage' of adulthood.

This age group perceived married people as more likely to:
  • own their own homes
  • live longer
  • be healthier
  • take risks
  • be less conservative
  • be less aware of current events
  • be seen as more trustworthy
  • fear being alone
  • be kinder to animals
  • have good relationships outside of the marriage
  • not have a stronger sense of morality and ethics.

When asked to respond to a series of questions that allowed for them to write in their own answers, the majority of this age group responded that:
  • Married people gave up freedom and gained financial stability.
  • That being married allowed people to have an increased social and economic standing.
  • That the benefits of marriage were mostly a sense of emotional security and companionship.
  • That the purpose of being married was to publicly declare your relationship.
  • Compassion and honesty were identified as the two most important elements of a relationship.


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Cassandra Tribe
c.2000-09
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