In today's world, many people are having pre-marital sexual experiences before entering into marriage. These experiences can have an impact on their expectations for marriage and how they view their partner. When a person enters into marriage, they may be comparing their new relationship to their previous ones and feeling either satisfied or disappointed based on those comparisons. This is known as setting up internal benchmarks.
One way that pre-marital sexual experiences can set up these benchmarks is through comparison. If someone had numerous partners before getting married, they may feel like their current partner isn't as exciting or fulfilling as their past ones. They may also compare their level of physical attraction to their partner and find them lacking. Another way is through attachment. Someone who was emotionally attached to their ex may feel disconnected from their current spouse because they aren't as close.
There are some benefits to setting up these benchmarks. It allows couples to understand what they want and need out of their marriage. By recognizing what worked well in the past, they can try to recreate it in their current relationship. It also helps to identify areas where improvement is needed and provides motivation to work towards change.
It gives couples something to look forward to outside of just each other.
But there are potential downsides as well. Setting up too high of standards can lead to unrealistic expectations and cause resentment when they aren't met. Comparing past relationships can lead to jealousy and a lack of trust in the current one. And not being able to communicate openly about these issues can strain the relationship further.
Having pre-marital sexual experiences can create internal benchmarks that influence satisfaction and disillusionment in marriage. These benchmarks can be helpful if used positively but harmful if not managed properly. Couples should talk openly with each other about their past experiences and use them to improve their current relationship rather than using them as points of comparison.
How do pre-marital sexual experiences establish internal benchmarks that influence satisfaction and disillusionment in marriage?
Pre-marital sexual experiences can establish internal benchmarks by providing individuals with expectations about what sex will be like within their marriage. If they have had positive experiences prior to marriage, they may have high expectations for their future partner and this could lead to disappointment if those expectations are not met. Conversely, if they have negative experiences, it is possible that they will enter their marriage with low expectations which can also lead to dissatisfaction.