Does your wife wear soiled aprons around the house? That's a demerit. Is she slow in coming to bed? That's another demerit. She's not turning out too well.
In the 1930s, psychologist George Crane developed ratings charts that husbands and wives could use to offer each other constructive criticism:
Although most people who read the test today find it humorous and obviously dated, Crane did attempt to make it scientific. His method was to interview 600 husbands on their wives' positive and negative qualities. Then he listed the 50 demerits and merits that arose most frequently. Crane, did admit to using a personal bias in weighting the items that he thought were most important in marriage.
You can view the chart for husbands at the link.
Link via Glenn Reynolds
Ok... so some of these things are what we consider to be sexist today but at least the general attitude was that couples had responsibilities toward each other which were emotionally, financially, etc. beneficial in many ways. Now we have media that mainly portrays how to catch a mate but not what to do with them along with the idolization of youth, stupidity and trendiness which seems to produce selfish and lazy people with unrealistic goals who are more concerned with, "What's in it for me?".
Now I do realize that this is painting a broad brush-stroke but I've found it hard to meet someone who is even considerate enough to do things like... if one person cooks dinner then the other offers to help with the dishes. Little things like that earn huge merit points with me anyway.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tiabla/sets/72157605047200616/
I got a -33.
For a minute there I thought it was the 'Martial Rooting System' or Marital or whatever.
Where am I?
Apparently it's OK if the little lady's not around.