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Reasons for Getting Married

Marriage can be described as a partnership between two people who agree to be together for life sharing all financial, emotional, social, sexual and cognitive needs and interests. Developmental psychologists state that marriage is a mutual consensual relationship approved by society and accepted by the concerned individuals. The individuals come together primarily to satisfy sexual urges and consequently to start a family and contribute to the biological evolution of life.

!b>Sexual Intimacy and Romance

Man is a social animal and cannot exist alone. According to social psychologists individuals need to have physical contact with one another in order to lead a normal life. This physical proximity is experienced through the sensory impulses of taste, touch, vision, auditory and smell. Human beings thrive on the sensory impulse of touch. Not only does it satisfy the brain hunger for physical contact but it also fulfills the primitive human need for sex. Two primary forces of 'Eros' and 'Thantos' rule humans. Thantos governs human desire to eat and drink whereas eros rules the human desire to engage in sexual activity.

This is a normal human response and sensation. Absence of the satiation of eros or celibacy can prove to be detrimental to the cognitive and emotional development of man. The fulfillment of eros has taken on a social connotation through marriage. Society recognises this primitive need and drive and chooses to acknowledge it. It states that people should get married to give vent to their sexual drive. Social psychologists further claim that this is the reason why sexual intimacy is so strong immediately after a marriage. But society puts a limit on the fulfillment of eros. The individual begins to curb this natural desire with growing family responsibilities. But even in modern times of cohabitation, marriage remains a dominant choice for couples seeking to fulfill their sexual need with a chosen partner. Thus, the existence of marriage is basically social based on the satiation of man's primitive need for sexual pleasure.

Religious Beliefs

Religion also tries to mould and shape the behaviour of man. It provides a direction to a person to fulfill his basic carnal needs of eros and thantos. Religions of Islam, Buddhism and Hinduism speak of fulfilling the sexual need with one or several partners. Traditional Islam gives men the option to have three wives whereas Buddhism followers have to contend with one wife. Modern Islam is now allowing women to divorce and remarry. This simply shows that even religions seek to fulfill the desires of man within the realms of society. Refusal to enter into matrimony is simply denying the existence of God. Thus, a refusal to marry can be considered blasphemous. In fact the phrase 'holy matrimony' was coined from religious texts.

Religious texts state that it does not matter when the person marries or in some cases remarries. This perception of religions worldwide can be translated into dogmatic and traditional shackled perceptions. But the view exists even today. It is widely prevalent in Asia, Africa and a few countries of Europe such as Turkey, Denmark and Italy. It is making headway in recent times in the USA and UK with young people opting to get married. Religion plays a big contributing factor in the dominance and popularity of the institution of marriage.

Financial Considerations

According to social psychologists, people also get married to ensure an equal partnership in all issues of finance. Marriage assures the individual that he/she is not alone and does not have to bear the financial burden alone. A person may wish to pursue higher education, buy a car or a house but being single may put up barriers on the financial front. It may pose a serious threat and usually the single person postpones or terminates the fulfillment of the desire. But in a marriage where there are two people, financial resources are pooled and shared. The individual gets to fulfill her/ his desires at a small price. Maybe the person would have to allot a share in the house or any asset purchased during the marital period to the spouse.

Apart from making finances easier, marriage ensures a split of all emotional, social and familial obligations and needs. The individual is not responsible solely anymore. The person can fallback on hi spouse and can always rely on the other person to do the needful. Thus it is advisable to always marry someone who shares a similar background, educational goals and life expectations as you. This ensures an appreciation and respect for each other.

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James Walsh is a freelance writer and copy editor. If you want to find out more about a solicitor managed divorce see www.managed-divorce.co.uk

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