The Consumer Culture Of Marriage

This is a multi-decade view Bill Doherty has that marriages are now consumer marriages. “Wants” in a relationship become core, non-negotiable “needs” as people read self-help books and absorb the cultural norm of the personal fulfillment in a soul mate relationship. The problem with consumer marriage is that it emphasizes what I want and not what I give, and it leads to dissatisfaction because we never achieve the relationship ideal—and there is always potentially a better partner out there.