Being A Hopeless Romantic Is Good For Relationships, According To Research

If your parents, grandmother, friends and dog told you the reason you're still single is because you're a hopeless romantic, I have some excellent, science-backed news for you.

According to a study published in the Journal of Social and Personal Relationships last month, having strong beliefs and high expectations about romance are actually good things.

Regardless of what people tell you, believing in and expecting romance won't hurt your chances of finding it or make you unhappy in your current relationship.

According to researcher Sarah Vannier, PhD, people with high romantic expectations are more likely to view their partners as meeting these expectations.

Vannier told Glamour,

It is hard to say whether this is because they are seeing their partner through rose-colored glasses — e.g. their beliefs about Prince Charming make them think their partner is Prince Charming, even if other people might think that he is a frog — or if this is because they found and chose a partner who meets their expectations.

Either way, this study is a great one to cite the next time someone tells you you're too picky.

For all you cynics out there, there still might not be huge disadvantages to doing it your ways, and it's also worth noting your definitions of romance can change over time.

So, whether you're a glass-half-empty or glass-half-full kind of guy or girl when it comes to romance, go a little easier on yourself. You'll find The One either way.

Citations: Why Being A Hopeless Romantic Is Actually Good For Your Love Life (Teen Vogue), Passion, connection, and destiny How romantic expectations help predict satisfaction and commitment in young adults' dating relationships (Journal of Social and Personal Relationships)