The Psychology Behind Soulmates, And Whether Or Not They Actually Exist

Kukuh Himawan Samudro
Kukuh Himawan Samudro

We often hear the term “soulmate”, but how many of us actually believe in such a concept? How many of us believe that there is one specific person out there, that is “meant” to be with us …and us with them?

According to the latest Marist poll, 73% of the American population believe in the concept of a soulmate while 27% do not.

Is the percentage of people who believe on the rise? Or the decline?

The concept of a “soulmate” would appear to be on the rise. In the previous poll, carried out a year earlier, only 66% said they believed in the concept …while 34% said they did not.

When we break down the statistics further, the younger the person is, the more likely they are to believe in the concept:

  • Under 30: 80% believed in the soulmate concept
  • 30-40: 78% believed in it
  • 45-59: 72% believed in it
  • Over 60’s: 65% believed in it

But is believing in this concept a good idea?

Whether it is a good thing or not to believe in the soulmate concept really depends on your current relationship situation. If you are in love with the person, believing that it was your destiny to end up with this one specific person can actually strengthen that relationship.

However, if you were to break up with someone who you thought was your soulmate, it can make recovery from that breakup almost impossible. Thinking your ex was “the one” or your “soulmate” is one of the leading factors that cause people to pine for an ex for years after a breakup.

So, do soulmates really exist?

The reality is that soulmates don’t exist in real life …but are only an artificial construct in our minds as a result of the movies we see and the songs we listen to.

In my book, “THE ERASE CODE: How To Get Over Anyone In Less Than A Week Using Psychology,” I show how to remove the belief from your mind that your ex was “the one” or “soulmate” …and in this way, fast-track your recovery from that breakup in a much quicker way than would other wise be the case.  Thought Catalog Logo Mark

John Alex Clark is a Relationship & Life Coach. He is the founder of the website Relationship Psychology.

Keep up with John Alex on Twitter and Website

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