The Right Relationship or None: What Science Says About Love and Singlehood

We treat relationship status like a progress bar — and single is stuck at zero. But what if the science tells a different story?
About this Event

Research shows that romantic relationships can boost wellbeing, happiness, and even physical health. But here's the catch: only the right ones do. A bad relationship is worse for your health than being single. And yet, we live in a society that treats partnership as the ultimate goal and singlehood as a problem to solve.

So what does the science actually say about thriving — whether you're coupled up, dating, or happily (or not so happily) flying solo?

This talk will explore what relationship science reveals about love and the surprisingly complex world of singlehood. We'll dig into the ways that relationships foster happiness and security. We’ll also address some of the misconceptions about singlehood, and why being single might be one of the most underrated ways to foster happiness.

The end game is about thriving - regardless of whether you’re coupled, single, or somewhere in between.

Yuthika Girme is an Associate Professor and Director of the SECURE Lab in the Department of Psychology at Simon Fraser University. She is a leading expert on singlehood and relationship science, and her work has been recognized by several psychological associations. She teaches courses on Close Relationships, Personality Differences, and the Science of Singlehood, and hosts an educational podcast called . When she's not conducting research, she's on a mountain — snowboarding or hiking, depending on the season.

Agenda

6:00 PM doors open. Guests are welcome to arrive early, order drinks, and have dinner before the lecture begins.

7:00 PM lecture begins, followed by Q&A.

8:15 PM wrap up. Guests are welcome to stay for conversation and another drink.