36 questions to fall in love

The US-american psychologist Dr. Arthur Aron published a study in year 1997, in which two people can find out if they love each other or not by questioning 36 questions. All questions will be answered by both. After the questions have been answered, the possible lovers must look each other in the eyes for 4 minutes. That is the point when you feel butterflies in the stomach or not.

The study is based on the assumption, that with revealing personal informations a strong emotional connection, called closeness in a way of itimacy in the study, will develop. The feelings developed when answering the questions should be consolidated with the silent eye contact.

That means you skip the small talk on the first date and find directly out whether it fits. In addition, the 36 questions about falling in love provide interesting topics for the first date.

Feelings of being in love actually arose in a large number of Aron's test subjects. One couple even married 6 months later. A comparison experiment with people who were given superficial questions as a basis for conversation clearly showed that small talk is not enough to arouse such feelings.

Arthur Aron's experiment was put to the test on the Pro7 show Galileo. Check out the video if you want to learn more.

Of course, there is more to falling in love than just an emotional bond, if biological factors in connection with pheromones and hormones not connect or no external attraction are present, the best questions/answers are of no use. But if these are given, the questions help to find out whether you are on the same wavelength.

It can also move in the other direction. Unsympathetic answers, different interests and goals or different values and beliefs can lead to separate paths.