The Five Minute Rule

[Lizzy]

I'm doing a presentation on the Development of Relationships and here's my question for all of you:

 

Do you believe that you can tell in the first five minutes of meeting someone if you would consider dating them?

 

Thanks for the input!

[Tony T]

An awful lot of people do. It's called attraction, chemical or whatever.

 

There are many instances I have read about where two people knew from their very first gaze at each other that they would be with each other forever. Some famous examples are President and Mrs. Lyndon Johnson, Helen Gurly and Harry Brown, and Humphrey Bogard and Lauren Bacall.

 

So, yes, it is possible to know if you would consider dating them after the first five minutes. It's all a matter of odds, attraction, common interests, where you meet, if you've heard about the person before, if he or she says the right things. We often have sort of a profile of the ideal person for us in our mind...and if we meet a person who meets our criteria, BINGO!!! In psychology, I think they call it our "ego ideal."

 

I also think it is possible to know if you would consider running as fast as you can in the opposite direction five minutes (or less) after meeting someone.

 

This is a great question and I hope a lot of people comment. Good luck on your presentation.

 

It would make a great study to see just how many couples who sort of feel for each other rather instantly lasted for any meaningful amount of time.

[Nicky]

I'm doing a presentation on the Development of Relationships and here's my question for all of you: Do you believe that you can tell in the first five minutes of meeting someone if you would consider dating them? Thanks for the input!

Yes, sometimes I can tell within the first five minutes if I would consider dating somebody. I think it's because I sense something in common, and hence an attraction to somebody, and more than just on the physical level. It's quite a subconcious thing. We also tend to form impressions very quickly, but these too can be adjusted, as we get to know somebody better, and have more information about them.

 

However, that doesn't mean that if I don't feel that initially, it's out of the question. It's all about timing, sometimes when I meet people, my mind is somewhere else and I'm distracted, eg in a pub/ at work.

[Shirley]

I'm doing a presentation on the Development of Relationships and here's my question for all of you: Do you believe that you can tell in the first five minutes of meeting someone if you would consider dating them? Thanks for the input!

 

Hi!

 

Yes, and that's the way it's supposed to be when deciding to go on that first date. There's that initial attraction and interest. It's all those other fears and questions that make people hesitate.