Head Over Heels: What Men and Women Think About Love and Relationships

The American romance with romance knows no bounds. Until you touch the remote.
The 60 Minutes/Vanity Fair Poll, Vanity Fair

Herewith, astonishing evidence that romance doesn't fade but actually strengthens. Which segment of the population is least likely to believe in love at first sight? Not the marrieds! Not those in relationships! It's those of us not in relationships who express the most skepticism about such moments.

In contrast, the moment we find ourselves married or in a relationship, June is bustin' out all over. (Another possible explanation: we've started swigging--sorry, swiggin'--the Kool-Aid.) Nearly three-quarters of us consider open relationships either a mistake or a sin. Also, almost half of Americans feel that asking a father for his daughter's hand is "a necessary courtesy," as opposed to just 3 percent who see it as "sexist and offensive." And the in-law lovefest doesn't stop there: 71 percent of us claim to "get along well" with the families of our significant others. That's not surprising if the definition of getting along well means not exchanging gunfire. Otherwise …

1. Have you ever secretly read your significant other's e-mail?
MEN
NO: 84%
YES: 16%
WOMEN
NO: 81%
YES: 19%

2. Which of the following best describes the act of asking a father for his daughter's hand in marriage?
A NECESSARY COURTESY: 45%
GALLANT, NOT REALLY NECESSARY: 31%
OLD-FASHIONED AND EMBARRASSING: 18%
DOING HOUSEHOLD CHORES: 16%
SEXIST AND OFFENSIVE: 3%

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3. Do you believe in love at first sight?
CURRENTLY MARRIED
58% / YES
41% / NO
IN A RELATIONSHIP
66% / YES
29% / NO
NO RELAIONSHIP
48% / YES
48% / YES

4. In general, how important is good sex to a successful relationship?
VERY IMPORTANT: 62%
SOMEWHAT IMPORTANT: 25%
NOT VERY IMPORTANT: 6%
THE MOST IMPORTANT: 5%

5. What is more difficult to say?
I LOVE YOU: 24%
THIS IS OVER: 66%

6. Which of the following is the best way to talk to young children about where babies come from?
THE FACTS: 64%
THE BIRDS AND THE BEES: 21%
DON'T TELL THEM: 6%
THE STORK: 5%

7. Which comes closest to how you feel about your significant other's family?
THEY LIKE ME; I DON'T LIKE THEM: 6%
GET ALONG WELL: 71%
NO LOVE LOST BETWEEN US: 12%
I LIKE THEM; THEY DON'T LIKE ME: 5%

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8. How do you feel about open relationships--that is, relationships where those involved agree to see other people?
A GODSEND: 7%
A MYTH: 9%
A MISTAKE: 47%
A SIN: 25%

9. Which one of these marriage vows is the hardest to keep?
TO BE FAITHFUL
MEN: 25%
WOMEN 27%
FOR BETTER OR FOR WORSE
MEN: 23%
WOMEN: 32%
IN SICKNESS AND IN HEALTH
MEN: 17%
WOMEN: 16%
FOR RICHER, FOR POORER
MEN: 18%
WOMEN: 12%

10. Which of the following aspects of living with someone most drives you crazy?
TV CHOICES: 36%
DOING HOUSEHOLD CHORES: 16%
SHARING A BATHROOM: 13%
SHARING A BED: 7%

This poll was conducted at the CBS News interviewing facility among a random sample of 1,100 adults nationwide, interviewed by telephone November 16-19, 2012.

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