A new survey by dating site eHarmony reveals the fives stages of a relationship and what it means.
eHarmony conducted a survey on close to 1,000 Australians to find out more about relationships.
"While some are more fun than others, it’s crucial not to rush through any phase – take the time to actually be single and enjoy the dating experience, not just the final destination,” Harmony relationship expert and psychologist Jacqui Manning is quoted as saying by The Independent.
1. The spark
That exciting moment when both parties at the start of a relationship realise they like each other.
According to the survey:
One in four people kiss on the first date
1 in 10 waited three weeks to have their first kiss
Majority of the people said they would wait three months before having sex.
2. Honeymoon
This stage is still exciting and fun. However, getting there is not easy. Some people believe you need to have an open dialogue about becoming exclusive. People tend tended to deactivate their online dating profiles mostly after three months.
3. Intimacy
The research found men were usually the first to say, "I love you". This is also the phase where people started to feel more comfortable with each other.
4. Commitment
According to the survey, many people are not afraid of committing to their partner early in a relationship.
* 45% of people will be engaged after a year or share property together.
* 28% of people would move in with their partner six months into the relationship
* 15% would get a pet together within six months
5. Heartbreak
Even though a large portion of the relationships did eventually end, 67% were able to get back on the horse and start dating again. The survey also found that it takes two years to get over an ex.
