

{"id":19386,"date":"2017-12-07T12:40:18","date_gmt":"2017-12-07T12:40:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/?p=19386"},"modified":"2024-04-15T00:26:23","modified_gmt":"2024-04-15T00:26:23","slug":"men-and-relationships","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/romance\/men-and-relationships\/","title":{"rendered":"What Is Romance to a Man \u2013 10 Things Men Find Romantic"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-81133\" src=\"https:\/\/image.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/New-Project-2022-11-08T143508.029.jpg\" alt=\"Couple dancing at beach \" width=\"804\" height=\"350\"><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What is romance to a man?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Popular opinion states that men and women differ so much that they might come from different planets.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While we wouldn&rsquo;t agree with such an extreme stance (there is more difference between individuals than between men and women as groups), it is true that men, in general, tend to act differently in relationships than women.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Whether it is biology, evolution, or <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.researchgate.net\/publication\/302398353_Psychosocial_Factors#:~:text=Psychosocial%20factors%2C%20according%20to%20Ali%2C%20Wan%2C%20Wan%20and,delivery%20of%20high%20quality%20teaching%20and%20learning%20process.\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">psychosocial factors<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, the culture and its influence on a developing mind in childhood, men are expected to be strong, tough, composed, and rational.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But how are the romantic relationships of modern men? What is a myth, and what is the fact? Let&rsquo;s understand men and romance.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Do-men-actually-like-romance\"><\/span><b>Do men actually like romance?<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is probably the most perplexing question that women keep stressing over. When it comes to romance, men have a different approach.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What is romance to a man? It&rsquo;s not only about candlelight dinners, romantic movies, long drives, etc. They don&rsquo;t lack in the romance department, have an <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.marcbilodeau.com\/romantic-relationships\/\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">analytical view<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and mostly focus on logic.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For example, a woman might watch a movie and find it romantic emotionally (scenes with flowers, romantic monologues). In contrast, a man would look at their actions and wonder why the character did what he did.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Do guys like romance? Are guys romantic? Certainly, however, they seem to have a different kind of mindset regarding romance. Men like the security of logic rather than working solely based on emotions.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Men-seek-the-same-things-as-women\"><\/span><b>Men seek the same things as women<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Apart from being, in fact, more romantic than women, men tend to seek pretty much the same things from their love partners as women do.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Men, same as women, search for a kind and intelligent person with an exciting personality. When you think about what romance is to a man, you also associate this question solely with physical attributes.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While it is true that men do rate physical appearance as more important than women, studies have shown that, in practice, such gender differences disappear.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Men and women choose their future partners based on physical attractiveness equally. Men may be more vocal (or honest) about how important looks are. So, men do feel attracted by the physical characteristics of a woman, but equally, so do women.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Men, like women, search for a person with a set of <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/relationship\/psychological-effects-of-being-the-other-woman\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">psychological characteristics<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> that they would find appealing when they want to date her and develop a romantic relationship with her.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Men-are-more-romantic-than-women\"><\/span><b>Men are more romantic than women<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We learned that men are more romantic and less superficial than usually considered. So, when they enter a relationship, how do they behave? It is generally believed that men tend to be more withdrawn and inaccessible, especially when a conflict arises.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is somewhat true, and the cause of such a state of affairs is partly in the cultural influence that dictates how men ought to behave and partly in the dynamics of the relationship itself.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/experts\/kimberly-smith-lmhc-fl-lpc-mi-mac-qs-fl\">Counselor Kimberly Smith<\/a> highlights,<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">More precisely, how the partners <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.researchgate.net\/publication\/317333240_Communication_in_Personal_Relationships\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">communicate<\/span><\/a> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">and interact will determine how the men behave, and the same goes for women. In other words, both men and women might find themselves in the position of a demander or the one who withdraws when facing a demand.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Yet, the modern Western culture is arranged in such a manner that men usually find themselves in the position of the stronger and more reserved partner who is often flooded with demands for emotional closeness.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When one <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/relationship\/emotional-needs-you-should-not-expect\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">partner demands<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> that certain needs are met or that affection is expressed in a certain way and does it more and more intensively, the other partner will inevitably begin to withdraw.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-19387 size-full\" title=\"What Are Men Really like in Romance\" src=\"https:\/\/image.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/What-Are-Men-Really-like-in-Romance.jpg\" alt=\"What Are Men Really like in Romance\" width=\"804\" height=\"350\"><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"10-things-men-think-are-absolutely-romantic\"><\/span><b>10 things men think are absolutely romantic<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What romance is to a man is not that hard to decode. It&rsquo;s debatable if men are more romantic than women, but here are some things that men find extremely romantic.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>1. Honesty&nbsp;<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Honesty is probably the only closest answer to what romance is to a man. Believe it or not, honesty is something that men prioritize over anything.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Men want to trust their partner and think <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/relationship\/honesty-in-a-relationship\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">honesty is as romantic<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> as it gets in a relationship.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>2. Clear communication<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As stated previously, men&rsquo;s idea of romance is more logical. Women might love to read between the lines, but men find women with clear communication skills attractive.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They find it <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/love\/how-to-express-your-love\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">extremely romantic when their partner<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> expresses or asks something straightforward. They don&rsquo;t like to be confused and wonder what their partner wants.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>3. Confidence and security<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Movies have claimed otherwise, where a lost girl finds a perfect guy who takes care of her inevitably, but the truth is that when it comes to romance, men feel more comfortable with <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/relationship\/how-to-be-a-confident-wife\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">confident women<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>4. Dedicated time&nbsp;<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Regarding romance, men want women to invest their time in them. Be it a date night, a video call, or a getaway, &lsquo;it is important for men that their partners make time for them.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Being the sole bearer of their <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/relationship\/attention-seeking-partner\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">partner&rsquo;s attention<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is romantic to men. They always desire a woman who dedicates time to them; when she does, they feel loved.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>5. Display of affection<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What is romance to a man? A possible perfect answer to that is receiving affection. When their partner holds their hand or is close to them, they feel romance is in the air. For them expressing how much they are loved is romantic.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<pre><b><i>Related Reading:-<\/i><\/b> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/relationship\/affection-in-a-relationship\/\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">13 Easy Ways to Show Your Affection in a Relationship<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/pre>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Watch this video to learn more about why we love and what we want out of it.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/yJSiUm6jvI0\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3><b>6. Little things&nbsp;<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Most men&rsquo;s <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/romance\/what-to-do-when-there-is-no-romance-in-a-relationship\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">idea of romance<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> revolves around little effort. A random I love you text, a sudden coffee date, a surprise date, a call to ask how they are doing, a wake-up coffee or kiss, etc.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">All these things mean a lot to men.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>7. Dance<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Whether they can do the tango or not, they surely find dance romantic. The thought of them holding you in their arms while moving on the dance floor is romantic to men.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Holding you close so much so that they can feel your heartbeat and breath makes them feel romantic.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<pre><b><i>Related Reading:-<\/i><\/b> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/relationship\/how-to-stop-the-codependency-dance\/\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How to Stop the Codependency Dance<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/pre>\n<h3><b>8. Love letters<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Whether they admit it or not, most men like mushy stuff.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Love letters have always been a perfect way to express love, and since love letters have become rare these days, they have gained a reputation as one of the most romantic things for men and women. So men do find <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/love\/love-letters-for-her\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">love letters romantic<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>9. Validation&nbsp;<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Men and women both need to feel secure and good about themselves. Men love when they are heard and feel validated. Owing to their approach toward romance, validation makes them feel happy and wanted.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<pre><b><i>Related Reading:-<\/i><\/b> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/relationship\/secret-to-deeper-connection\/\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Validation: The Secret to Deeper Connection<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/pre>\n<h3><b>10. To be desired&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Who doesn&rsquo;t <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/love\/love-tip-stay-crazy-about-each-other-with-these-8-romantic-phrases\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">feel romantic<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> when they are desired by someone they love? Men, too, feel romantic when they are seen as the object of desire. As soon as they see that look in a woman&rsquo;s eye, most;y their heart skips a beat, and if that is not romantic, we don&rsquo;t know what is.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Takeaway\"><\/span><b>Takeaway<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Men in relationships don&rsquo;t differ from women; surely not as much as any person differs from the other. What type of romance do guys like?&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They seek someone who will respect, love, and cherish them. A man in a relationship needs someone who will inspire and support him and be there by his side through the good and bad times.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false,"raw":""},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What is romance to a man? Popular opinion states that men and women differ so much that they might come from different planets.&nbsp; While we wouldn&rsquo;t agree with such an extreme stance (there is more difference between individuals than between men and women as groups), it is true that men, in general, tend to act differently in relationships than women.&nbsp; Whether it is biology, evolution, or psychosocial factors, the culture and its influence on a developing mind in childhood, men are expected to be strong, tough, composed, and rational.&nbsp; But how are the romantic relationships of modern men? What is <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":630,"featured_media":81133,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[25],"tags":[2557],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19386"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/630"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=19386"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19386\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":98231,"href":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19386\/revisions\/98231"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/81133"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=19386"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=19386"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=19386"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}