What Are The 36 Questions To Fall In Love? Building Romance And Friendship

Medically reviewed by Majesty Purvis, LCMHC
Updated October 31st, 2025 by Regain Editorial Team

Key takeaways

  • Asking someone certain questions can lead to a more intimate connection and possibly, love. 
  • For more support with relationships and intimacy, online therapy is available. 

If you want to develop a deeper bond with someone, there is a set of questions that may help. Developed by researchers in 1997 and popularized by the New York Times in 2015, the “36 questions to fall in love” offer a structured way to build emotional closeness

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What is the idea behind the 36 questions to fall in love?

The 36 questions were first developed by psychologist Arthur Aron and colleagues in a 1997 research study on interpersonal closeness. The study suggests that one aspect of developing a close relationship is engaging in “sustained, escalating, reciprocal, personalistic self-disclosure.”

Using the 36 questions to fall in love, whether for romance or friendship

While these questions are often discussed in the context of romantic relationships, they can be used with anyone you want to build a stronger connection with, such as a new friend. 

What are the 36 questions? Questions on making a telephone call, the roles love and affection play in your life, if you feel your childhood was happier than most, etc.

The questions are organized into three sets that get increasingly personal. 

Set I questions: Do you rehearse before making a telephone call? 

  1. Of anyone in the world, who would you want as a dinner guest?

  2. Would you like to be famous? In what way?

  3. Before making a telephone call, do you ever rehearse what you are going to say? Why?

  4. What would constitute a “perfect” day for you?

  5. When did you last sing to yourself? To someone else?

  6. If you were able to live to the age of 90 and retain either the mind or body of a 30-year-old for the last 60 years of your life, which would you want?

  7. Do you have a secret hunch about how you will die?

  8. Name three things you and your partner have in common.

  9. For what in your life do you feel most grateful?

  10. If you could change anything about the way you were raised, what would it be?

  11. Take four minutes and tell your partner your life story in as much detail as possible.

  12. If you could wake up tomorrow having gained any one quality or ability, what would it be?

Set II questions: Do you feel your childhood was happier than most? What roles do love and affection play in your life?

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  1. If a crystal ball could tell you the truth about yourself or anything else, what would you ask?

  2. What have you dreamed of doing for a long time? 

  3. What is the greatest accomplishment of your life?

  4. What do you value most in a friendship?

  5. What is your most treasured memory?

  6. What is your most terrible memory?

  7. If you knew that in one year you would die suddenly, would you change anything about the way you are living?

  8. What does friendship mean to you?

  9. What roles do love and affection play in your life?

  10. Alternate sharing a positive characteristic of your partner.

  11. Do you feel your childhood was happier than most?

  12. How is your relationship with your mother?

Set III questions: When was the last time you cried?

  1. Make three true “we” statements each. For instance, “We are both in this room feeling…" 

  2. Complete this sentence: “I wish I had someone with whom I could share…"

  3. If you were going to become a close friend with your partner, what would be important for them to know?

  4. Tell your partner what you like about them.

  5. Share an embarrassing moment.

  6. When did you last cry?

  7. Tell your partner something that you like about them.

  8. What, if anything, is too serious to be joked about?

  9. If you were to die suddenly, what would you most regret not having told someone? 

  10. Your house catches fire. Aside from loved ones and pets, what else would you save?

  11. Whose death would you find most disturbing?

  12. Share a personal problem and ask your partner’s advice. 

A couple waves at their coputer screen
Getty/Srdjanns74
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How else can you cultivate greater closeness in a romantic relationship or friendship?

Research has demonstrated the effectiveness of online therapy for improving relationship satisfaction. For those who find an in-person setting uncomfortable, online therapy may help you feel more at ease.

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Takeaway

If you want to build a deeper connection, asking each other the 36 questions above may be a powerful first step. For additional support, you can connect with a licensed therapist in person or online.
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