On the first day of class every semester, Portia Dyrenforth asks the students taking her psychology course whether they think couples with similar personalities are more likely to be happy together.
Inevitably, she says, they nod.
Then she asks whether they know any couples who are very different from each other but still seem quite content in their relationships.
They nod at this one, too.
36 Responses to “Similar Traits May not Be the Best for Couples”
A great article.. I personally beleive that opposites attract and I like girls who are different than me, so that i can get variety of experiences
I guess that is a tough question if you ask which one is true. But on the other hand both seem to be true and it kind of depends on the person. I think opposites attract, no wonder all the nice girls seem to like the naughty bad boy image.
If opposites attract, similar people are more compatible with each other and they dont have to adjust too much to the partner coz after all they are similar!
Having a partner who is similar to your personality can be sometimes a bore. Like this one time I was dating a guy very much with similar intrests to mine, i could almost predict what his reaction to everything was goin to be and it became quite boring for me after a while
I have never thought so much about these things but i guess i fall for girls who are on the wilder side. And I'm myself not such an extrovert, my case would be opposites do attract!
Sometimes when im going through a string of bad breaks, I find that going for similar personality traits to be refreshing change for my liking for opposites. So i guess both of these sayings are equally true
I like guys with similar triats to my, I tend to feel very secure with them as I know what will happen next and how they will respond to certain things. Its also quite easy to make them happy as i know exactly what they want
Both of these things are true, some of my friends like opposites more while the others prefer similar traits. But i don't think along those lines, I just have some basic qualities that i look for rest of them can be same or different it doesn't matter… atleast to me !
Nice article and all, but with all that research i guess the question still stands open. And as ive noticed both of these instances can be quite true.
The study in the later part of the article was quite interesting, i have noticed that when my partner is happy i tend to be happier and his openness to the relationship is another factor which is quite nice
Similar traits are quite good if you ask me, you dont need to adjust to them too much, they like the same stuff as you , its a nice relationship. What more can you ask ?
wonderful news, similar traits do attract! Im in a relationship with my girl for 1 yr now, if that is not attraction I dont know what is. THe things is we do have loads of fun and good times and that makes us stick together
Well congrats Ike, but i personally like opposite traits. I find these people more interesting and its such an adventure to try and know these people.
Opposites attract , it is obvious. I dont think i can stand two of me! Well on a serious note, I won't find the other person interesting if they are too predictable, so same personalities is definitely out!
Similar couples have a very comfortable feeling about them, I've never dated a girl with same tastes but thats the feeling i get. So i guess that is not soo bad a thing then, considering you do want to feel comfortable and secure with your loved ones
Opposites attract. That's what works for them I guess. I suppose it's because they get attracted to their traits because they themselves do not possess them.
I always thought that similar traits were a good thing in couples. Aah, gone are the conventional days.
Sometimes I feel that my wife is too narrow-minded. And, me being very broad-minded creates rifts amongst us. Then how come opposite traits are a good prospect?
These articles are definitely written to create rift amongst couples who are similar-minded. After reading this, my hubby was in a bad mood since morning.
Why does my wife demand of things? I find that demeaning. She always keeps complaining of things rather than solving. She's totally my opposite, and this proves that opposites don't attract.
Opposites attract. Haven't you studied physics?
Here we are talking about chemistry my friend, not physics.
Why are these compatibility tests for? Does it mean that they are all false? Being more compatible means having similar traits, doesn't it?
Who says similar trait may not be the best for couples. Even I and my wife are quite similar and we do share a healthy relationship.
@Jacob: Relax bro. Exceptions can be ignored.
Yeah, Indeed. I do agree with the author. Opposite attracts. Cheers!
Why you people make so much fuss about this. Be genuine, love truly (without any selfishness) and your relationship will blossom with each passing day.
There are a few things which one needs to think when going into dating a person. Age is one of the factors.
I second you fredrick.
I wonder how older women get into this. I can understand about the men as they're too horny to bed girls.
Sometimes, I have always thought that people tend to overdo. Dating is one thing which looks good till a certain age, not after that. Better to think in that terms and stay away from it at an age after 40.
There have been times which have made me think that I'm not doing good by browsing dating sites. But, seeing my dad do the same for a new gf encourages me too.
Relax guys.It pays to be old these days. So, don't be jealous. Get old. Kill your wife. Get a new PC, and start browsing hot singles over the net.
Aha Jean. Said like a joker you!!
I have always thought that someone needed to think for the elederly people. Who'll give them companionship. Now Yangutu will. Come folks, let's join Yangutu ::P
The compatibility tests are all good, but actually, only those people are compatible who have similar traits. No test can show a better result than a test of traits.