The well-known saying that “opposites attract” may not always be accurate, according to a recent report from the University of Colorado Boulder. Research conducted by a group of scholars involved reviewing previous studies as well as conducting their own analysis of over 130 traits spanning millions of couples, dating back to 1903. Surprisingly, the findings revealed that partners are more likely to share similarities, with 82% to 89% of the traits analyzed being shared. The report was published in the journal Nature Human Behavior.
“Our findings demonstrate that birds of a feather are indeed more likely to flock together,” stated Tanya Horwitz, the first author of the study and a doctoral candidate at the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience and the Institute for Behavioral Genetics. Traits such as political and religious attitudes, educational level, and substance use showed the highest correlations among couples.
According to Horwitz, “there may be mechanisms happening behind the scenes of which we aren’t fully aware.” It was also discovered that birth year was the most commonly shared trait among partners. Traits such as height, weight, personality, and even medical conditions were also found to have significant correlations among couples.
However, the study uncovered that extroverts did not exhibit a typical pattern when it came to choosing a partner who was either an introvert or an extrovert. The researchers concluded that individuals were as likely to end up with someone with similar traits as they were with someone with different traits in terms of extroversion.
Further research is needed to explore correlations that could potentially impact the genetics of future generations, as well as the social implications of people partnering up with individuals from similar educational backgrounds. By utilizing this data, the hope is that individuals can analyze relationships more effectively and gain a better understanding of how and why people end up with certain partners.
These outcomes may be influenced by several factors, such as growing up in the same area, being attracted to similarities, or the development of similarities over time. However, it should be noted that the study did not include same-sex relationships, as the patterns involved may differ significantly. This is an area the researchers plan to explore separately.
Dr. Jayme Albin, a cognitive behavioral psychologist, and Dr. Christine MacInnis, a licensed family therapist, both shared their thoughts on the findings. Albin emphasized the importance of paying attention to traits such as political and religious attitudes, education level, and attitudes about sex and substance use during dating, as they could heavily impact a marriage. MacInnis challenged the notion of “opposites attract” and noted that shared experiences and commonalities tend to foster a stronger connection in relationships.
In conclusion, the research from the University of Colorado Boulder suggests that the saying “opposites attract” may not hold true in all cases. Couples are more likely to have similar traits and characteristics, and this has implications for genetics and social dynamics. These findings encourage individuals to consider shared traits as key factors when forming relationships.
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