THE FUSE

My husband and I have been married almost 25 years. He maintains that it was love at first sight; I maintain that he is mistaken. Regardless of who is correct, as a family scientist, I recognize that beliefs like love at first sight can contribute to myths about romantic love that can negatively impact relationships. Hallmark movies, like other romance movies, tend to be based on these myths, including the belief in soulmates or that love can conquer all. In real life, the more one believes in these myths, the less likely they are to be in satisfying relationships. Some may even end their relationships before they experience conflict out of the belief that, if they were truly meant to be, there should be no conflict.