The 36 Questions: Lead to Love 2.0.34

The 36 Questions is inspired by an article penned by Mandy Len Catron for the Modern Love essay series, titled “To Fall in Love With Anyone, Do This.” The piece delves into a study conducted by psychologist Arthur Aron (and colleagues), investigating whether intimacy levels between unfamiliar individuals can be expedited through a structured set of personal inquiries.

The underlying concept is centered around the belief that shared vulnerability nurtures proximity. As articulated by the study’s authors, “One key pattern linked to the development of an intimate relationship among peers is a continual, deepening, mutual exchange of personal revelations.”

Comprising of 36 thought-provoking questions, 36 Questions encourages participants to engage with their partner in answering these prompts. This process can also be captured through recording or video documentation for commemorative purposes. In the absence of one's partner, individuals can create question cards and note down their responses for later sharing.

Upon completing the questionnaire, participants are encouraged to establish eye contact with their partner – a concluding ritual akin to the one undertaken by Catron and her acquaintance in the aforementioned article. Ms. Catron emphatically vouched for this practice, asserting that “Two minutes is just enough to be terrified,” elaborating that “Four truly delves into uncharted territories.”