The Global Future of Human Pairing

This study examines how culture shapes intimacy, romantic relationships, and family structures across Mexico, Saudi Arabia, China, India, and Nigeria, which are nations representing significant immigrant populations in the United States. Through a mixed- methods approach, the study explores each nation's cultural history to identify the cultural complexes that may influence norms around first-family intimacy and marriage practices. The study also considers how American soft power and globalization influence these patterns through media, technology, and the spread of individualistic values related to autonomy and romantic choice. The experiences of intercultural couples are investigated to illustrate how cultural capital, a shared lingua franca, hybrid identity formation, and third-culture child dynamics shape intimacy in an increasingly interconnected world.