Watch CBS News

List Of 36 Questions May Increase Chances Of Falling In Love

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - Valentine's Day makes people think about romance.

So, what if there's something you can do to increase your chances of falling in love? It may even spice up a relationship you're already in.

It centers on asking and answering a carefully designed list of questions.

The 36 questions were used in a study by psychologist Arthur Aron at Stony Brook University in New York.

Recently, they were written about in an essay in The New York Times.

Well, we decided to do our own experiment, unscientific as ours was. We asked two volunteers to go on a date. They didn't know each other beforehand and they agreed to ask each other the 36 questions.

Our couple was Tori Mistick, a social media marketing specialist, and Jeff Pollock, a lawyer. Dinner was at Matteo's Restaurant in Lawrenceville. With candlelight and delicious food, it was the perfect place for romance to blossom.

Then, came the questions.

Pollock asked Mistick: "What would constitute a perfect day for you?"

Mistick answered with a laugh: "Well, being somewhere warm obviously!"

The questions kept coming: "What is the greatest accomplishment of your life?" "Is there something you've dreamed of doing for a long time, and if so, why haven't you done it?" "Share with your partner an embarrassing moment in your life."

The two are laughing and sharing things that normally never would be on a first date.

Then, we took video of the date and asked Nan Cohen to watch. She's actually known for her advice on divorce (she has a radio show and a book), but she also knows what makes a relationship work. And she liked what she saw with Mistick and Pollock.

"They connected right away. All eyes went to each other," said Cohen.

She thinks the questions help spark open, honest conversation.

In Dr. Aron's study, one of the couples actually wound up getting married.

Some of questions are very personal and some deal with death.
"Whose death would you find most disturbing and why?"

But our brave couple seemed unphased, and afterwards, both thought it went well.

"It does allow for getting inside someone's personality a little more than 'Where do you work? "Do you like yoga?'" said Pollock.

"I think every time Jeff and I see each other from now on, we're going to have insider knowledge of one another," said Mistick.

Cohen thinks the questions foster vulnerability and closeness and can even be useful in a current relationship.

"Pick one of those 36 questions out and ask your spouse," said Cohen. "When was the last time you asked them one of those questions? They're really intriguing."

So, could love blossom between Mistick and Pollock?

"Whoever arranged us did a good job, and we had a lot in common and actually a lot to talk about," said Mistick.

"I'd like to think it went well, and I could ask her out again. In fact, I would not be shy about doing that, and we'll see what happens," Pollock said.

Join The Conversation On The KDKA Facebook Page
Stay Up To Date, Follow KDKA On Twitter

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.