1 People may think that love and romantic feelings are enough of a basis for choosing a spouse. 2 The chances of a marriage surviving, however, would im- prove if prospective marriage partners considered a few unromantic questions before deciding on matrimony. 3 For example, do the two individuals involved share a common socioeconomic background? 4 The more similar they are in their social, economic, religious, and cultural backgrounds, the more similar their expectations about married life will be. 5 In addition, what are their goals? 6 It , s a big advantage to the marriage if they know and share one another’s goals concerning career, lifestyle, and family. 7 Finally, and maybe most im- portant, how does the prospective spouse treat others in his or her life? 8 Dur- ing the courtship, the boyfriend or girlfriend may get special consideration, but in the long run, spouses will probably treat each other about the same way they treat their own family members.