10 Things Happy Couples Talk About

As Eleanor Roosevelt said, great minds talk about ideas; small minds talk about people. What do you and your significant other talk about? If you constantly hit the heavy stuff you're probably happier than if you spend time gossiping about your neighbors or coworkers.

A recent study published in Psychological Science says that people are happier when they spend more time discussing meaningful topics than engaging in small talk. Seventy-nine college students had their conversations recorded and analyzed by researchers, who distinguished between chit-chat about the food or the weather from discussions about philosophy, education, or religion. Subjects who reported the greatest amount of satisfaction spent only 10 percent of their conversation on small talk, while the unhappiest subjects kept 28.3 of their talking time in the shallow end. Having The Tough Talks With Men

Granted, the study is still in its infancy, and researchers have yet to conclude whether people are happy because they can talk deeply, or whether they talk deeply because they are happy. Either way, we started thinking about relationships and how closely we converse with our partners. In an interview with The New York Times, researcher Matthias Mehl said,

By engaging in meaningful conversations, we manage to impose meaning on an otherwise pretty chaotic world. And interpersonally, as you find this meaning, you bond with your interactive partner, and we know that interpersonal connection and integration is a core fundamental foundation of happiness.

Heck, what's more chaotic than being in love? Among the scores of substantive topics people discuss, we've come up with 10 that we believe couples should relish during heart-to-hearts: How To Ace The "What Are We?" Talk

1. Embarrassing moments. If you can't share the awkward, American Pie-worthy moments that occurred throughout high school with your boyfriend or husband, who can you tell them to? Don't be afraid to broach the subject, if you haven't already. We wouldn't be surprised if his stories are more horrifying than yours.

2. Political viewpoints. How do you feel about the freshly-approved healthcare bill? You don't have to agree with each other, but you do need to keep an open mind. A good relationship allows both parties to discuss their own philosophies without taking the opposition personally.