Does Age Matter in Relationships - Research Paper Example

The general trend that is most often observed in our society is when the man is older than the woman which is quite acceptable however; problems can arise if the opposite happens. Nonetheless, it is never impossible to be in a relationship which encompasses age differences as long as the couple understands each other and possesses the capability to resolve issues in case there are any. (Furman, 2000) It should be understood that here when we took about age, it does mean the physical changes that it imposes on the person; it is rather the maturity and change in the mental level that is under consideration.

In a relationship, it does not really matter as to who is older and who is younger as long as there is compatibility and the maturity level matches. That is how it is often seen a 50 year old falling for someone who is half the age. An individual reaches a certain maturity level considering the various life experiences, hardships as well as personal beliefs and all this has no particular age limit whatsoever. One of the factors that can build or break a relationship is the common interests shared by the two people.

The secret to successful relationships is mostly the similarity and convergence that exists between the hobbies and activities of individuals. Like it is said, birds of a feather flock together; this notion holds true for relationships too and is the key to most of the successful and prosperous relationships. However it does not mean that it is necessary for the couple to have similar interests, this is only possible in perfect situations which clearly do not exist. What’s more important is to share some time together doing things that interest both.

One of the things that hold importance when it comes to carrying relationships with major age differences is to determine whether it will be a hindrance in doing particular activities together such as hiking, skiing, travelling etc. (Douglas, 2002) While at one point the things that contribute to a healthy relationship may be mental compatibility, similar interests and hobbies, same career choices or merely the love factor. If looked from the other point of view, the picture has a completely different dimension to it as well.

The most significant among them being the biological factor, which alters the needs and priorities of people owing to their age and experience. While at one point of life, one of the two people in the relationship may want to live life to the fullest while the other might want to keep the pace slow. In some cases where women are older than men, women have to face a lot of criticism and deal with the pressures coming from the society. Biological factors such as woman’s incapability to reproduce due to old age are also inevitable and can stain the relationship if the man is not understanding and supportive and also if the issue has not been discussed before.

(Jennifer, 2008) The common trends in a society, personal experiences and beliefs also play a great role in determining and deciding what the possible age difference should be. Women tend to be inclined towards older men owing to the fact that they are mature, well settled, and seeking for a serious and long term relationship which is quite contrary to the attitude of younger men who are non serious and are not sure of what