Can You Be Happy Single? | Elaine Hoan PhD Researcher Couply Podcast

Elaine Hoan, a researcher studying singlehood and wellbeing, discusses the trends and factors affecting singles.

She explores the question of who has better sex, singles or partnered people, and explains that research suggests partnered people tend to have higher quality and more frequent sex.

Elaine also highlights the rising rates of unmarried individuals and the reasons why people are choosing to stay single, including career goals and economic factors. She delves into the personality traits of singles, such as introversion, lower conscientiousness, and higher neuroticism, and emphasizes that happiness should not be the sole measure of a meaningful life.

The conversation explores the cultural value of extroversion, interpreting low energy responses, not taking things personally, tips for introverted singles, meeting partners through hobbies and interests, Elaine's origin story of meeting her partner through a video game and the impact of online communities on relationships.

Connect with Elaine
https://twitter.com/elaine_hoan?lang=en

Download Couply
https://couply.page.link/podcast
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Chapters

00:00 Introductions
00:09 Researching Singles and Sex
03:19 Trends in Singleness and Wellness
04:11 Reasons for Choosing Singleness
05:29 Economic Benefits and Discrimination
07:28 Personality Types and Singleness
15:07 Personality Profile of Singles
26:33 Using Personality Traits to Navigate Singleness
28:14 The Cultural Value of Extroversion
29:00 Interpreting Low Energy Responses
30:26 Not Taking Things Personally
32:29 Tips for Introverted Singles
33:24 Meeting Partners through Hobbies and Interests
34:04 Elaine's got game: Meeting Her Partner through the League of Legends Video Game
36:47 The Impact of Online Communities on Relationships
43:44 Gender Differences in Happiness
46:24 The Emotional Intelligence Challenge for Men
54:39 The Impact of Technology and Online Communities on Singleness
59:06 Elaine's Personal Journey: Meeting a Partner through League of Legends


TLDR: Takeaways

Partnered people tend to have higher quality and more frequent sex compared to singles.

The number of unmarried individuals is rising globally, and people are choosing to stay single for various reasons, including career goals and economic factors.

Singles tend to have different personality traits, such as introversion, lower conscientiousness, and higher neuroticism, but this does not mean their lives are less meaningful.

Happiness should not be the sole measure of a meaningful life, and singles can navigate their singleness by understanding their personality traits and focusing on what brings them fulfillment.

Extroverted people tend to be happier in various cultures, and there is a cultural value placed on extroversion.

Interpreting low energy responses from others can be challenging, but it's important not to take it personally and consider other factors.

Being single does not mean there is something wrong with you, and it's important to focus on personal well-being!
For introverted singles, getting involved in hobbies and interests can be a great way to meet potential partners.
Technology and online communities can facilitate connections and relationships, but it's important to be cautious and maintain in-person interactions.
Gender differences exist in happiness, with women generally reporting higher levels of happiness when single.
Men face challenges in developing emotional intelligence and social skills, which can impact their relationships.
The impact of technology on singleness is complex, with potential benefits and risks.
Personal experiences of meeting partners through technology can vary, and trust and communication are crucial in online relationships.


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