Why do some stay in relationships with people they never want to marry?

[Anonymous]

I knew a guy who was in a relationship with his girlfriend for 5 long years. He got her pregnant in the 6th yr, so he had to marry her. 4 years later, they are divorced. He admitted that he never wanted to marry her, he just settled for her. So why didn't you just break up with her and find a better fit somewhere else?

I also knew another girl who dated a guy for 9 years. Marriage never came accross their minds. Then one day, she told her boyfriend that she was going to move back to CA where her family was from. Then that was how it ended. Apparently she never saw a future with him. But stayed with him for 9 long years.

[Anonymous]

Usually one of two things.

1. They can't be alone. They don't necessarily want to be with the person they're with but they don't want to be alone. So they're satisfied enough with the status quo.

And that brings me to number 2. They're waiting for something better to come along. They don't want to marry the person they're with. But something better has not come along yet.

[Sevenpointfive]

the easy answer is that they think that they don't have options

[Nikki1989]

Staying in a familiar, even if not entirely fulfilling, relationship can feel safer and more comfortable than facing the unknown of being single or starting over.

[Anonymous]

Your question assumes the only reason for a relationship is to marry. It's not. Today relationships are more appealing to men than marriage, because marriage is a minefield for today's men.

[Oldschool1981]

My wife has a side guy she has no intention of marrying