According to the country's best relationship gurus, marriage is doomed and will become extinct over the next 30 years. The great majority of couples, they claim, will reject it in favor of a series of long-term partnerships. This conclusion comes from two popular authors who have published several books on relationships: John Gottman and Nan Silver. They have spent their lives studying marriages, and what they've learned can be applied to any relationship. Their main thesis is that every marriage follows a predictable course that can be divided into four stages. Even if one or both partners come from broken homes, their theory says that they can learn to adjust their behavior so that their marriage works. The first stage is engagement. During this time, both parties are completely focused on each other, looking for signs of affection, commitment, and love. If one or both spouses come from a family environment where these feelings were not shown, then they need to learn how to communicate them effectively. Engaged couples show their interest by doing things together, such as going out to dinner or movies, or simply talking about their future together. The second stage is marriage preparation. In order to make sure that everything goes smoothly during marriage, experts recommend that couples start planning now. This means making decisions about finances, in-law issues, and major changes that may affect your relationship.