When a marriage ends, the world is accustomed to thinking in terms of divorce—a clean (or not-so-clean) legal severance of two partners who, for whatever reason, can no longer function as a couple.

But what if, instead of merely ending, a marriage was declared to have never truly existed?

That is the power of the annulment—a rare and, in some traditions, almost mystical declaration that dissolves a marriage not because it failed, but because it was never valid in the first place.

The history of marriage annulment reveals an evolving understanding of love, legitimacy, and personal autonomy.

Unlike divorce, which assumes a union was real and then ended, annulment challenges the very existence of the marriage, often invoking legal, religious, or social justifications.

Over the centuries, the criteria for annulment have reflected changing cultural attitudes toward marriage itself—who should enter it, why they should stay, and under what conditions they might be released.

A new study published in Brain Sciences finds that women with heightened interoceptive awareness—the ability to tune into their internal bodily sensations—report more frequent and satisfying orgasms.

Yes, ladies, mindfulness isn't just for yoga; it turns out your ability to sense your own heartbeat or notice a stomach grumble might also be the secret sauce to better orgasms.

Let’s break it down: the study found that different aspects of interoception influence both how often women climax and how good those orgasms feel—whether solo or with a partner.

Women who were better at noticing their bodily sensations tended to orgasm more frequently, while those who could regulate their attention to internal signals found their solo sessions especially satisfying.

Ever wonder why some couples stay connected after having kids while others struggle to maintain intimacy?

Parenthood brings a whirlwind of changes—sleep deprivation, endless responsibilities, and an ever-growing to-do list. While the love for your children deepens, the time and energy for romance often shrink.

A recent study published in The Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality explores how parenting stress interacts with attachment styles to shape sexual satisfaction in couples—and the findings might surprise you.

Love is often considered the foundation of a happy and lasting relationship, but have you ever wondered why we love in the first place?

What purpose does love serve in our lives, and is it truly as universal as we believe?

A fascinating new study published in Human Nature sheds light on these questions, offering compelling evidence that romantic love is not just a cultural preference but a deeply ingrained part of human connection across the globe.

For decades, the Hollywood (and Wall Street) playbook dictated that a successful man should trade in his wife for a younger model around the time his hair started to gray.

This expectation was so ingrained in the culture that it became a punchline—think Leonardo DiCaprio’s infamous inability to date a woman over 25.

But in a surprising twist, 2025 has brought us an exciting new trend: age-appropriate relationships.

Yes, dating someone within a reasonable age range of your own is now hot.

Could this be the end of the Trophy Wife Era?

Romance is a fickle beast—what seems like a dreamy match at 25 might look very different at 65.

A new study published in Personal Relationships sheds light on the fascinating evolution of age gaps in romantic relationships, proving once again that love is as much a shifting social construct as it is a timeless mystery.

The research, spanning data from 29 countries, reveals a consistent trend: as men age, they are increasingly likely to pair up with younger partners.

Women, meanwhile, follow a subtler trajectory, initially favoring slightly older men before eventually prioritizing companionship and shared life experience over traditional age norms.

But before older men start congratulating themselves for their ever-widening dating pool, let’s take a closer look. As the old adage warns: Be careful what you wish for. A relationship with a younger partner might seem like a golden ticket, but research suggests it can come with unexpected trade-offs.

What makes some couples feel like soulmates while others seem to exist in parallel emotional universes?

Enter the concept of high shared reality couples, a psychological phenomenon that explains why some romantic partners experience an almost seamless alignment in their thoughts, emotions, and worldviews.

Rooted in social psychology, shared reality theory suggests that when two life partners validate each other’s perceptions of the world, they reinforce a profound sense of connection, intimacy, and trust (Higgins, 2019).

In this post, we’ll explore what it means to be a high shared reality couple, why it matters for relationship satisfaction, and the potential risks of over-synchronization.

We’ll also discuss the implications of these findings for long-term commitment, emotional security, and even societal cohesion.

Love is often described as a journey—a shared path where two people navigate life’s uncertainties together. But beyond emotional closeness, new research highlights another vital function of romantic relationships: they help us make sense of the world.

A recent study published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology reveals that shared reality with a romantic partner can reduce uncertainty and deepen our sense of meaning in life.

When couples cultivate a mutual understanding of their experiences, their bond strengthens, but more importantly, they develop a clearer perspective on life.

This research sheds light on an often-overlooked aspect of relationships—how they help us build a shared framework for interpreting the world, reducing confusion, and fostering purpose.

Could a little bodily inflammation actually spice up your love life?

That’s what a recent study published in Brain, Behavior, and Immunity seems to suggest—but only if you’re someone who’s already eager to connect with your romantic partner.

Yes, science is now stepping into the bedroom to uncover how your immune system might play a strange but surprisingly intimate role in sexual satisfaction and orgasm frequency.

Before you start canceling your anti-inflammatory diet or hoping for a mild cold to boost your romantic chemistry, let’s break this down.

The concept of sexual autonomy within committed relationships has captured significant attention in our modern American relationship discourse.

By emphasizing individual freedom to explore sexual identities and desires, this approach challenges traditional monogamy.

While some hail it as a pathway to deeper authenticity and relational satisfaction, others remain skeptical about its practical and emotional implications.

As a couples therapist, I find myself grappling with the social pitfalls of this trend.

Add in considerations like paternity, evolutionary psychology, and emotional security, and the waters get even murkier.

Sexual Autonomy: What Is It?

Ah, the age-old question: What keeps the flames of love alive after you’ve finished binging The Crown for the fifth time and can predict your partner’s snores like clockwork?

It’s not just those steamy glances across the dinner table—it’s keeping things spicy in the bedroom. And when things cool off there, it’s not lack of desire but an unexpected culprit—sexual boredom—that might be the ultimate relationship buzzkill.

A groundbreaking study published in the Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy tackles this head-on.

Researchers examined how sexual boredom, that sneaky feeling of "same old, same old," mediates the relationship between sexual desire (for your partner or that hot guy you passed on the street) and relationship satisfaction.

Their findings? It’s not the wandering eye but rather boredom that’s the real homewrecker.

Sugar dating.

On the surface, it’s a relationship dynamic where financial support and companionship intermingle in a way that feels almost too fitting for our age of hyper-materialism.

But peel back the layers, and sugar arrangements reveal deeper, more troubling questions about power, agency, and the commodification of intimacy.

Recent research published in The Journal of Sex Research provides a closer look at sugar dating’s realities.

While it attempts to explore the motivations and nuances of these arrangements, it inadvertently shines a light on the unsettling cultural forces that normalize them.