Romantic beliefs and myths in Spain

Abstract

Data from a representative sample of the Spanish population (1,949 participants between ages 18 and 65) were analyzed to examine the strength of the principal romantic myths and the link between sex, love, and marriage in Spain. A survey was made up and was administered by interviewers. The results show the strength of these myths and the relationship between the three above-mentioned variables. Women, people with fewer years of formal education, and older people were more likely to believe in the myths and the relation between sex, love, and marriage was stronger in these groups. The findings are discussed in terms of different psychosocial theories.En este artículo se analizan los datos de una investigación realizada con una muestra representativa de la población española respecto a la vigencia de los principales mitos románticos y la vinculación entre sexo, amor y matrimonio. Se elaboróun cuestionario para evaluar dichas variables, que fue administrado, en forma de entrevista, a 1.949 personas. Los resultados indican la gran vigencia de dichos mitos y la estrecha relación entre las tres variables indicadas anteriormente, especialmente en el caso de las mujeres, personas de mayor edad y con menor nivel de estudios. Los resultados se comentan desde diferentes teorías psicosociales.