Why Do Men Fear Marriage?

Men often avoid commitment in relationships due to personal, financial, and social risks associated with marriage. Gamophobia, a fear of commitment or fear of marriage, can keep individuals from enjoying meaningful relationships. Some common reasons for fear include past failed relationships, personal insecurity, and the fear of being changed.

Some men fear that their partners will try to change them after getting married, especially when the female partner has already applied pressure to change earlier in the relationship. This fear can lead to physical symptoms such as rapid heartbeat, heart palpitations, sweating, shortness of breath, chest pain, lightheadedness, nausea, and flushing.

The fear of losing freedom and independence is another reason why people prefer staying in unhappy marriages. The number one fear a man has about marital commitment is change, as they do not like changes. Additionally, men fear losing freedom and independence, which can lead to feelings of domestication and subservience.

Divorce renders marriage completely pointless and makes it a serious risk for the man. Men fear marriage because it is a crapshoot, gambling their financial health on a capricious creature who can gut them out in divorce court any time.

Five brutally honest reasons men don’t want to get married are: 1. Weddings are expensive; 2. Everyone tells us marriage is bad; 3. The cost of the wedding is high; 4. The wedding is a big event; 5. The wedding is expensive; 6.


📹 Why do men avoid the topic of marriage?|| STEVE HARVEY

Steve Harvey dives into things with serious questions about men and their feelings on marriage and cheating. Subscribe now to …


Why are men afraid of relationships?

Some men don’t get love and are afraid. They may not have seen a good example of a loving, committed relationship. They feel unworthy. They feel unlovable. If they feel unlovable, do you think they want a woman they like to see that? No way! So when things get too close, they back away or try to ruin things. The reason men I coach feel unworthy and unlovable often has to do with one big thing they don’t say. Shame. John Bradshaw says that shame is feeling defective and flawed. If you think you’re defective, there’s no repair.

Smart men don't get married
(Image Source: Pixabay.com)

What makes a man scared of commitment?

There are a number of factors that can cause commitment issues. These causes often include fears about the relationship, such as fear of being hurt, fear of being with the wrong person, fear of things not working out, and other relationship-related anxieties.

If someone experienced trauma in a past relationship or went through a difficult breakup, this can lead to commitment issues in the future.

Other factors can stem from the childhood experiences in upbringing and family history. These influences can shape ones attachment style. Those who are typically avoidant attached, for example, may exhibit commitment issues.

Why do guys want to get married so fast
(Image Source: Pixabay.com)

Why do men prefer not to marry?

Men who stay single often don’t want to make changes to fit a partner into their lives. Some men don’t marry because they think marriage means giving up material and non-material things.

4. Dating apps are great. Why don’t some men marry? Men can meet women on dating apps in a few hours. For a man who wants no commitment, this is the perfect way to find sexual satisfaction and non-committal relationships.

Who benefits more in a marriage man or woman
(Image Source: Pixabay.com)

Is it normal to be scared to get married?

Feeling anxious doesn’t mean your relationship won’t work out. It’s not about your partner, but about you. Maybe getting married makes you afraid of growing up. You might have trouble trusting your decisions. Even if you live with your future spouse, the fear of what marriage will change can make you anxious.

Take the free quiz to find out if you have engagement anxiety.

Wedding and engagement anxiety affects you and your partner.

Why are all men scared of commitment?

Main points. Some men fear being controlled because of the strong mothering pressure they experienced growing up. Some men are afraid they are not lovable. Some men don’t feel ready for relationships, children, and family life. As a clinical psychologist and researcher, I’ve found that guys have eight common fears of commitment. These fears have their roots in childhood and adolescence. Men often recreate negative relationship scenarios and sabotage themselves when it comes to romance and love. If a man doesn’t work on his issues, he’ll keep repeating the same patterns with women. This limits his chances of finding love. I know you know men’s fears in this area, but bear with me. I want you to understand men better. Some men are really stuck, while others are growing and working on themselves. You want to know if your partner is stuck so you can leave quickly. If he is developing himself, understanding these patterns will help you know how to key into his psychology. This man is afraid a woman will leave him. He has a hard time being honest and is afraid of conflict. When disagreements come up, he avoids them. He prefers email or texts when dealing with uncomfortable issues. He doesn’t have the courage to stand up to his partner, so problems get worse. When things get tense, he doesn’t have the courage to break up. Instead, he becomes passive-aggressive and slowly stops contacting you. Or he dumps you before you can dump him. Above all, he fears rejection. It’s a painful feeling that’s like being destroyed. He avoids conflict.

How do men benefit from marriage
(Image Source: Pixabay.com)

Are men happier in marriage?

What about men? Is happiness, marriage, and parenthood linked for men? The 2022 General Social Survey shows that marriage makes men ages 18-55 happier. Married fathers are the happiest.

35% of married men with kids are very happy, while 30% of married men without kids are. Unmarried men without children are the least happy. Only 15% of these men say they are very happy. Married men in America are twice as likely to be very happy as unmarried men.

These results match other recent University of Chicago research showing that marriage is the main factor in happiness in America. The study also found that falling marriage rates are a reason why happiness has declined nationally. The research found that married Americans are 30% happier than unmarried Americans.

He loves me but is afraid of marriage
(Image Source: Pixabay.com)

Are men happier if they never get married?

Men who are married are about 0.2 points happier. This is true even with controls for many demographic variables. Davis is wrong. Even though many men get divorced, being ever-married is still linked to higher happiness for men. This effect is about one-third of a standard deviation in happiness, so it’s not small. Maybe divorce and separation are so bad that they make divorced and separated men even more unhappy than if they had never married. This isn’t true. There’s no difference in happiness between divorced/separated men and never-married men over 30, with or without control variables. Marriage doesn’t make men happier after divorce. Their happiness just goes back to where it would have been if they’d never married.

This data is cross-sectional, but the GSS also has a panel dataset. I used panel data from 2016 to 2020 to see how men’s happiness changed after getting married or divorced. There are only 66 first marriages and 41 divorces/separations in the dataset (see Figure 2), so the effects are not significantly different from zero.

Chances of a man getting married after 35
(Image Source: Pixabay.com)

Why would someone be afraid of marriage?

Gamophobia — a fear of commitment or fear of marriage — can keep you from enjoying meaningful relationships. A painful breakup, divorce or abandonment during childhood or adulthood may make you afraid to commit to someone you love.

Who is at risk for gamophobia?. People with personality disorders like borderline personality disorder (BPD) may avoid commitment due to an intense fear of being abandoned or rejected. They also tend to have trust issues.

  • Family history: Growing up with a parent or loved one who has a phobia or anxiety disorder may lead you to develop the same or similar fears.
  • Biological sex: People designated female at birth (DFAB) tend to develop specific phobic disorders more often than those designated male at birth (DMAB).
  • Genetics: Preliminary research suggests that certain people have a gene change (gene mutation) that increases their risk for anxiety or phobic disorders.

What other phobias are associated with commitment phobia?. Many people have more than one phobia. Usually, the phobias have some common tie. For instance, someone with a fear of commitment may also have:

What to do when your partner is afraid of marriage?

Couples counseling could help you both move forward, either toward a breakup or toward marriage. If your partner won’t go to counseling with you, go to individual therapy to talk about your feelings. Not everyone is the same when it comes to relationships and long-term goals. Some people want to take things slow. Some know they only want something short-term. Others jump into a relationship with marriage on their minds. When you’re ready to settle down, talk to your partner openly and respectfully. You also need to be emotionally prepared if they want something different. It’s natural to want to commit to your partner, especially if you want to start a family. Before getting married, think about what you both want from your relationship.

Why men don't want to get married anymore
(Image Source: Pixabay.com)

Should I wait for him to be ready for marriage?

Waiting is emotionally draining. If you’re worried your partner is afraid of commitment, waiting can make you feel stressed, anxious, or unsatisfied. If you wait for someone who doesn’t want a relationship, you might get hurt later. Jenkins says you should set a limit on how long you’re willing to wait and go with the flow. Think about whether this person is worth waiting for. If you’re not sure they’re the right partner, the stress may not be worth it.

You may not want to date anyone else. Waiting for your partner could mean you don’t date other people. If you’re not dating your partner but expect to be exclusive, you’re closed off to other potential connections. That’s not emotionally safe, says Jenkins. You run the risk of waiting forever. Some waiting periods never end. Discuss your desires with your partner to ensure you’re not waiting indefinitely. You decide how long is too long to wait and set clear boundaries. Nicholson says to watch how your partner acts to see if they’re interested in a relationship. People who are ready for a relationship are more open with their partner, which makes the relationship better, he says.

Is it normal to dread getting married?

It’s normal to be worried about the unknown and the learning curve of this commitment.

Benefits of marriage for a man reddit
(Image Source: Pixabay.com)

Is it abnormal to not want to get married?

“I don’t want to get married because I’m happy being single and want to pursue my dreams.” It’s normal for women not to want to get married. Women have the same aspirations, goals, and priorities as men. Some women focus on their careers, personal growth, or other aspects of life without wanting to get married. As society has changed, women can make choices that suit them.

In conclusion. “I don’t want to get married.” “It’s not for me.” The decision to get married or not is personal, and there is no single path to happiness. Today, this decision is no longer shocking. Many people understand and support this decision.


📹 Why Men Don’t Want To Get Married | Why Marriage Scares 99.9% of Men!

Are you wondering why men don’t want to get married? What the real reasons behind why they don’t want to invest in that type of …


Why Do Men Fear Marriage
(Image Source: Pixabay.com)

Christina Kohler

As an enthusiastic wedding planner, my goal is to furnish couples with indelible recollections of their momentous occasion. After more than ten years of experience in the field, I ensure that each wedding I coordinate is unique and characterized by my meticulous attention to detail, creativity, and a personal touch. I delight in materializing aspirations, guaranteeing that every occasion is as singular and enchanted as the love narrative it commemorates. Together, we can transform your wedding day into an unforgettable occasion that you will always remember fondly.

About me

26 comments

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  • Shows like this remind me at 28 6’ construction worker, why I’m single. Most women don’t deserve me. Most are too entitled. Famous misquoted line, If you can’t handle me at my worst, You don’t deserve my best. Goes for men as well if you’re counting equality. #mgtow Men’s best comes later in life where women’s comes when they’re young. Ask any girl why she dates older men? If she’s not lying, it’s status. What he offers to her. Ask her why she cheated on the guy same age, because of status, partner wasn’t as high in status. He couldn’t provide what she felt entitled to.

  • My husband never avoided the subject, l did. He grew up in a happy home, my parents got divorced, l had zero faith in the institution of marriage, while he wanted a family. He had to convince me, and it took a lot of patience and love, because l was scared as hell even though l loved him. I am happy he did, we’ve been happily married for 12 years. So it’s not always the men who fear committment, it very much depends on each person’s background and history.

  • Reasons why I never married and never will: .) High bodycount of women nowadays, especially of those who r attractive enough to be considered as a potential wife .) The fact that women date up means that she wouldn’t be dating me if I had less money .) Women make a secret about with whom they have been together so far. That makes it impossible to know her motivation for wanting to get married. Is it because she can no longer get the quantity or the quality as before or is it because I look better or have more money than others? .) Uncertainty how the marriage will change her behavior and looks. .) Uncertainty about whether she will cheat. .) Absolute certainty that in case of a marriage I would have much to lose while she would have much to gain. .) Absolute certainty that I will get richer by the year, while she will get older and more expensive to maintain. .) Absolute certainty that as the years go by, I will always be able to have younger and more beautiful women who will even cost me less. .) Possibility that as the years go by she or me or we both will want to have less appetite for sex with each other. .) The fact that women date multiple guys at the same time is already reason enough for me to avoid the liaison getting serious.

  • Men only avoid the topic of marriage with women who aren’t the one they want forever. If you have to bring up marriage, then he’s not in love with you. Steve Harvey was on stage doing a show when he saw his now wife Marjorie walk in. He Said when he saw her, he couldn’t breathe. He stopped the show. She thought it was because she came in late…. but it wasn’t. He was just staring at her. After like 5 min of pure staring, he shook it off and said “I’m sorry everybody. It’s just that, I don’t know who this woman is, but I’m going to marry her one day”. He knew the moment he saw her. It honestly doesn’t take a man long. If you’re bringing up marriage to a man, and he hasn’t ever mentioned it to you, he doesn’t think you’re the one. THESE ARE FACTS. If a guy is cheating… it’s not because he doesn’t find you attractive. Lol. It’s because you’re too available. They know they’ve got you. Be unpredictable. Be always on the go. Men are natural hunters and chasers. If he’s chasing you…. he had no time for other women. That’s why you see ugly ass women with fine ass men. She doesn’t give him the time of day most of the time. When she does though, she knocks his socks off… then I’d of and running again. Let him think you’ll fly away at any time. Make him work

  • It‘s not your responsibility if a guy cheats on you? Is Steve saying that the woman bears no responsibility at all? When you‘re in a love relationship with someone, it is your responsibility to always give them the best of yourself. If you let yourself go and gain more than a few pounds then you have to accept some responsibility. Attraction is key. It‘s hard to be in a loving relationship with someone you‘re no longer attracted to.

  • I see a lot of men in the comments section saying that marriage is a losing proposition for them…but it’s also a losing proposition for women too. Imagine legally tying yourself and having kids with someone you’ll eventually grow to resent and having to pay THOUSANDS of dollars to get away from them (and still can’t because of the kids). It’s just that most women are too caught up in the fairytale of having the ring, the wedding, and society’s “approval” that they don’t take that into consideration. Only marry someone you want to have on the rest of your life journey, if you marry for any other reason than that, you will be EXTREMELY disappointed.

  • This question is written by a woman of course. All men and I mean all of them who are successful empathetic and loving are single because women dont go for that type. I strongly believe this question should be flipped. I am a guy who has been looking for a woman to get married to for 15 years. My female friends have been trying hard to help but again it is a massive lie that women want marriage

  • A man wants the woman exclusively, A woman seems to want to share the social drama and hopefully as the man. Men try to enjoy the present blessings because rushing into the drama often means a world of pain and a destruction of all that is good. If she is absolutely wonderful then that pain may be only temporary and leads to truly wonderful things. hard to know these days though, and everyone says that they are the one you have been waiting for

  • It’s nothing to do with being scared. It’s just that men have stopped and took a time to think things through and found out that there is nothing for them in a marriage. It’s not worth the effort anymore. I’m 41 without any kids, and I don’t seek to get married at all. I’m not saying I’d never marry, just that when I look at people today, women in particular, I really doubt I would find one worthy of marrying.

  • Would anyone in their right mind want to buy a house if there was a 50% likelihood that it would collapse? Would you buy a new car if there was an 80% chance that it would break down? (I used this one because 80% of women initiate divorce). Society has changed. Women are empowered and financially independent; they do not need to depend on a man and this is proven every day by all the divorces taking place! I’m not talking about infidelity because that is wrong, but like a snake who can bite you at any time, a woman can divorce a man at any time for any reason! “Oh, we just drifted apart”, “I am not attracted to him any more”, “I just saw a profile of a hot guy on Tinder”, etc… marriage is dead.

  • My friend got married and his family paid £250,000 for the wedding and he end up getting divorced in 12 months hahaahah! I will never get married. My parents were married it has been an abusive relationship for the last 40 years. You are effectively locked into the marriage as if you divorce you lose the house, its reputationally bad and you lose the assets you worked hard for. Now think how damaging 40 years of abuse is: your children will be messed up mentally, both people would need decades of costly therapy to recover mentally.

  • Hey, I love the way you help everyone understand the situation accordingly instead of directly giving a decision about a person. Listening to your article I really got a hope. My boyfriend and I are in a long distant relationship, at starting we were like just normal friends but later it turned in to a relationship, and since starting he was always afraid of marriage and always mentioned me that he can’t marry me. Today after 5 long years I spoke with him regarding marriage thinking that his opinion might have changed. But unfortunately he’s not ready to get commited as he feels we both can’t be together for a whole life, due to my insecurities. But you know I really love and can’t lose him, I need you to help me out with this.

  • Think that terrifies me about getting Married is the burden that gets carried over to you, meaning your in your own separate life away from your parents, plus if you are financially stable enough to keep yourself in a House or being able to pay for Children’s Schools and Tutors, that scares me the most as I am also mentally unstable

  • Men are not terrified of marriage. We just have an understanding that women initiate 80% of the divorces and have the most to benefit from doing so. We don’t have any desire to engage in an activity that has a 50% chance of failure (divorce) and result in emotional and financial pain leading to physical distress. The risk of injury is just too great.

  • Women dont get married. You will end up being a care taker for someone who doesn’t value their health. If you end up putting him in a nusring home then you will have to go visit him while he waits to die while you are on the hook as the wife. Woman can make an argument against marriage too. How about everyone just do whatever they want and what’s best for them.

  • My boyfriend has no problem being exclusive.. he feels this is right and wants a relationship but I’m in a place to want marriage and the more I tell him about what I want.. it scares me and he throws his hands up in the air.. he’s very capable of taking decisions in big areas of life . So I’m stuck as to why he’s is so closed to this aspect. Yes his parents marriage is bad like most.. he had a long relationship previously that ended badly… But what can I do to show a good marriage that’s possible . I’m stuck

  • My husband is Japanese, I am not. I think he’s experienced might be unique to the culture of Japan but it took us 7 years to get married. After we already got married he told me that he was scared because of how miserable many of his colleagues are in marriage. How it was fun until they had kids and then wife didn’t want anything to do with the husband anymore, just treated him like atm. He said he was scared that our relationship would become the same. I think he’s relieved now that we have a 2 year old and our relationship is better than it have ever been. I personally think he might have never get married with me if I didn’t get pregnant. I was actually trying not to get pregnant all these years because I wanted to get married first. His family says he would most likely never get married at all if not me. I think that part of him regrets not getting married earlier, now that his prophecies of doom and gloom haven’t come true. 10 years together now

  • Men always think marriage is a trap when all I want is to be respected and honored! It’s like the highest form of commitment and love towards someone. I don’t understand why that’s so hard to get! 😞 Not to mention I am I guess you could say, a traditional person/old fashioned person! People over complicate things, it’s VERY annoying!! Hence, I’m approaching 40 and still single!

  • I’ve been with my bf for 3.5 years and he said he enjoyed spending time with me but he doesn’t want to get married becoz based on his experience with his parents and friends around( his parents does not have good marriage relationship), and he also scare of losing freedoms where he enjoys me time sometimes…so should I leave him or try to improve this relationship?

  • This exactly my relationship… We are together for 5 years.. Both of us has been married twice.. He does not want to get married again.. But I want to get married.. Do u think he would ever change his mind? He already has kids from previous relationship.. I don’t. He is 15 years older than me.. Am 38

  • J’aime bien la manniêre dont vous vous exprimer Monsieur and I love this article. Now my question is this. I’ve had my own fair share of heartbreaks “c’est à dire, j’ai été bien trompé par des filles that I truly loved at some point.” However, there’s this particular girl in my life right now who loves me with everything she has and I can vouch for her that yes! She truly loves me. The problem now is this. I would have truly loved to marry her but the problem is when we are together, there’s nothing to discuss with her. She doesn’t watch my kind of movies, She doesn’t share my sense of humour, she doesn’t dress up in the kind of fashion style I appreciate and I just don’t enjoy her company except when we are having $€x. Please help me out. I feel that I may never get to meet another girl who would love me the way she does. Subscribers, please lend me your advice too. This is so urgent for me coz I’d love to be married very soon. Thanks!

  • I wouldn’t say that not wanting to marry is always linked to fear as that’s nothing more that attempted shaming tactics I would however say that when you’re spiritually awakened to just how corrupt alot of women are and how the law rewards/blesses the woman with half of our assets along with handouts in alimony fees it’s just not worth the risk in marrying today once the government have removed themselves from our marital rights where a new law is passed protecting innocent men from getting bent over and shafted by members of the opposite sex that are clearly the ones in breach of their wedding vows which unfortunately is 9 out of 10 times ofcourse men are just as bad and I do believe it’s 50/50 after all of that if you weigh up the pros and cons in wanting to marry there’s more cons than pros and it’s just not worth taking the risk well atleast for now that is!!

  • I believe in love . Not marriage . Marriage is a contract and a bargain. Lovebrings inner security and self fulfillment. Love is an unconditional gift you give to the person you love. It is not a contract. Im 52 .earn well. Fabulously gym fit. Married at 40reluctantly . Divorced at 45.I will never marry because i believe only 4 kind of men NEED marriage : 1.child lover. Someone who really loves kids .( I am not . I love dogs not human child) 2 Someone who is filthy rich ( family inheritance or maybe a celebrity)and is sure that there will always be surplus of wealth to raise kids without compromising on their own lifestyle ( i am not that) 3 A businessman who has built a stable business and he needs an inheritor to that business so that the child can grow an further expand the family business ( i am a Well paid Salaried employee in a corporate but not a businessman) 4 A man who fears society,is traditional and has to marry due to perceived pressure of his family or society ( I am detached with the society hence have no fear)

  • Marriage makes sense to a guy when he is with a woman whom he’d TRUST to remain happy with very long term, establish some shared economic resources as a secure future base and potentially have a child or pets with.THIS APPLIES IF THE WOMAN HAS A CAREER, AN INCOME AT LEAST EQUAL TO HIS AND CAN BE PREDICTED TO SUSTAIN THIS REGARDLESS OF HAVING CHILDREN. It then makes the marriage contract worthwhile in recognising some of his rights to any child, property, decisions re spouse in coma etc..It can outweigh the assumed negatives re marital obligations since defacto status gives less clear cut rights, but keeps the most penalising responsibilities.Alex Claremont’s advice can be good for these situations to facilitate reassurance to guy otherwise on the way. A woman has no hope where a man over 30+ demonstrates he has andstill only works to support his passion for travel, hikes or clips or runs or motor bike trips, update on tech equipment, with main friends are similar types as him.We assume she loves their connection and some of the travel and hikes. IF she loves what he does the same with no desire for kids etc., no need to change their paradise. Not proving anything worthwhile to drag such to the alter, better appreciate what you share. Doesn’t matter when marriage happens or if not in this situation. If she HOPES TO MOVE TO KIDS, STABILITY, GETTING MARRIAGE ETC.,IT’S REALLY SMARTER TO MOVE ON TO ANOTHER AND LEAVE PETER PAN TO HIS LOST BOYS PARADISE.Just like for Wendy there was a limited time and place for Peter Pan encounter to be a real plus, but then moving on.

  • Yes! We were meant to get married! And not sin ! We are sinning too much for the “fear ” of men not wanting to get married and commit to one ☝🏻 woman 🙈😓🙄 ridiculous! Men don’t want to commit because they want their cake 🍰 and eat it two . Nah it doesn’t work that way . That’s why you just don’t marry the first person you meet or attracted to 😄 take your time to know someone . And not marry just to get in bed with that person . 😉

  • Loool!! Thanks a lot for the vidéo Coach!! As a “bad-patterns-phobic”, I can assure you that today’s wise and knowledged women, on the subject, are also not very “up” on these marriage stuff, damn nooooo!!… And best believe that in most of the case, women’s subconscious quite know about what men’s subconcious are “expecting” from marriage, yep! 😉 youtube.com/watch?v=Pgmx7z49OEk