The college degree, the 9-5 office job, the white picket fence, and, most importantly, the loving spouse and 2.5 children: once you've achieved these, you have it all! Or, do you?

Whether we're aware of it or not, we've been taught that there's a right way to do life—especially when it comes to our romantic relationships. In our culture, we're told that to have a healthy love life, we must have one partner who serves all of our needs. Without any deviations, this relationship should end in marriage and a few children; till death do us part.

In this episode of Your Secret is Safe with Me, Dr. Marie Murphy sits down with Dr. Devon Smith, an Associate Professor of Sociology at Palomar College, to break down the cultural norms around love and marriage. Together, they talk about the history of marriage and romantic relationships, the different ways we've been taught to prioritize one model of love, and the importance of breaking down these stereotypes to reach a style of love that works for you. Keep listening.