Tapestry

Still seeking your soul mate? 'One' is a whole number, says psychologist

Many of us are taught from a young age that marriage is the key to happiness. But what if this commonly held belief isn’t true? Social psychologist Bella DePaulo breaks down the stereotypes about single life.

We're told that marriage is the key to happiness. But what if that's false?

Social psychologist argues that the single life can be just as fulfilling as the married one. (Nam Y. Huh/Associated Press)

This episode originally aired on November 28, 2021. 


Many of us are taught from a young age to dream about finding "the one" and eventually marrying them. We're also told - through movies, television shows, and even relatives — that marriage is the key to a happy and successful life.

Bella DePaulo says this commonly-held belief isn't true. As someone who has always been single, and who has studied single life for decades, DePaulo argues that living single can bring one just as much happiness and satisfaction - if not more.

DePaulo is an author and Harvard-trained social psychologist at the University of California, Santa Barbara. She writes a blog called "Living Single" in Psychology Today.

Written and produced by Jessica Singer and Kent Hoffman.