{"id":19252,"date":"2015-05-10T05:38:29","date_gmt":"2015-05-10T05:38:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/drprem.com\/love\/?p=10971"},"modified":"2020-08-19T06:22:00","modified_gmt":"2020-08-19T06:22:00","slug":"the-science-of-cold-feet-and-how-to-keep-your-toes-warm-on-your-wedding-day","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/drprem.com\/life\/the-science-of-cold-feet-and-how-to-keep-your-toes-warm-on-your-wedding-day","title":{"rendered":"The Science of Cold Feet \u2014 And How to Keep Your Toes Warm on Your Wedding Day"},"content":{"rendered":"

Popular culture is filled with instances when cold feet are a cause for hilarity and romance. Matthew McConaughey loses his nerve at the altar after developing feelings for Jennifer Lopez in \u201cThe Wedding Planner.\u201d Drew Barrymore sees the errors of her fianc\u00e9 and falls instead for the charming Adam Sandler in \u201cThe Wedding Singer.\u201d And Julia Roberts is the reigning queen of cold feet as she fled dozens of nuptials in \u201cThe Runaway Bride.\u201d<\/p>\n

However, as funny as cold feet can be on the big screen, doubts about an upcoming marriage are very real, and they can be very terrifying.<\/p>

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Though the ever-threatening divorce rate of first marriages has leveled off since the 1960s when it started to spike, the fact remains that nearly 40 percent of American married couples split. With this looming information and the immense stress of planning for a wedding \u2014 and a marriage \u2014 it should be no surprise that almost all brides- and grooms-to-be<\/a> wonder \u201cAm I doing the right thing?\u201d at least once before the big day. These apprehensive sensations can merely be meaningless butterflies or serious warnings; the key is knowing the difference.<\/p>\n

The Science of Second-Guessing<\/h2>\n

Psychologists have devoted decades to researching the human decision-making process, from how people choose when and in what to invest to how people choose when and whom to marry. However, most affianced couples don\u2019t have a rigorous laboratory setting with which they can scrutinize their relationship and determine its validity in the long term. Thus, they rely on their cold feet to steer them straight.<\/p>\n

Most studies show that cold feet are incredible predictors of divorce and unhappy marriages for women and men. Yet, many brides and grooms elect to get hitched despite nagging worries for two reasons: an idealization of their partner and a profound belief that marriage will engender unparalleled happiness. Unfortunately, after a few months or years of marriage, both of these convictions dissolve, and discontent settles in.<\/p>\n

Reasons to Stay and Reasons to Go<\/h2>\n

Still, researchers believe that it is the nature of the doubts, not merely their existence that causes future strife. Not all cold feet are created equal, and nervousness can arise from a variety of sources<\/a>, many of which are worthy of being ignored.<\/p>\n

For example, partners who experience the following emotions should hesitate before calling off the wedding or running away from the altar:<\/p>

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