“A lot of times in relationships, you need to make sacrifices,” said Genesis Games, a therapist in Miami. “You don’t have any sacrifices to make when you’re on your own. You make all the decisions. If you feel like you want to change your friends, you want to move, you want to start from zero — whatever you think is a radical change that’s needed in your life — you have the full liberty to do that and not worry about anyone else.”

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In November, the actress Emma Watson, 29, spoke to British Vogue about being single. “I’m very happy. I call it being self-partnered.” In the same interview, Ms. Watson described the stress she felt before adopting this notion. “There is suddenly this bloody influx of subliminal messaging around. If you have not built a home, if you do not have a husband, if you do not have a baby, and you are turning 30, and you’re not in some incredibly secure, stable place in your career, or you’re still figuring things out … There’s just this incredible amount of anxiety.”

Even outside monogamy, casually dating, courtship and chasing potential love interests take energy and time. “When you’re not seeking partnership, you are in a very relaxed calm inner space and generally more comfortable with who you are,” said Carla Manly, a clinical psychologist who specializes in relationships and self-awareness, who is based in Santa Rosa, Calif. “You’re not trying to impress anyone and you’re not trying to please anyone, except that inner being.”

Dr. Manly says that for centuries, men and particularly women were raised to believe they are more valuable when married. This concept remains prevalent, despite people having a more relaxed attitude about marriage. (In the 2012 General Social Survey, more than half of adult Americans reported that getting married is not an experience they consider important to becoming an adult.)