CU Boulder's comprehensive study of over 130 traits and millions of couples over a century debunks the idea that opposites attract. The research, published in Nature Human Behaviour, reveals that 82% to 89% of analyzed traits show partners tend to be similar, challenging the notion that differences are attractive.
This has implications for genetics, as it challenges assumptions about random mating and highlights the importance of assortative mating in human relationships.
People With the Same Traits Likely End Up Together
The study involved a meta-analysis of 199 studies spanning more than a century, examining 22 traits and millions of heterosexual couples. Additionally, data from the UK Biobank, encompassing 133 rarely studied traits across nearly 80,000 opposite-sex couples, was analyzed.
The research excluded same-sex couples as their dynamics may differ significantly, a topic the authors are exploring separately. The study revealed high correlations in traits like political beliefs, religious attitudes, educational levels, and IQ, challenging the notion that opposites attract. For instance, political values showed a strong correlation of 0.58, indicating similarity in couples.
Furthermore, substance use traits, such as heavy smoking, heavy drinking, and abstinence, displayed substantial correlations, suggesting individuals tend to partner with those sharing similar habits.
On the other hand, traits like height, weight, medical conditions, and personality traits exhibited lower but still positive correlations, with neuroticism showing a correlation of 0.11. Interestingly, extroversion displayed minimal correlation, indicating that extroverts are equally likely to be with other extroverts or introverts.
The research concluded that there was no compelling evidence to support the idea that opposites attract across the analyzed traits. However, in some rare instances, there seemed to be a small negative correlation, notably in traits like chronotype (morning or night person), worry tendency, and hearing difficulty.
Further investigation is required to delve deeper into these findings, suggesting that hidden mechanisms may influence partner selection, even in situations where individuals perceive they have choices in their relationships.
Consequences of Choosing Partners With Similar Traits
The study acknowledges that couples share traits for various reasons, such as growing up in the same area, being attracted to similar people, or becoming more alike over time.
However, these shared traits can have downstream consequences. For example, when individuals with specific traits like height or certain medical conditions frequently partner with others sharing those same traits, it may lead to increased variations in these traits in the next generation. This pattern also extends to psychiatric and other characteristics.
Additionally, the study suggests that there may be social implications, as some trends indicate people with similar educational backgrounds are more likely to form couples, which could potentially contribute to socioeconomic disparities.
Furthermore, the research highlights that the strength of trait correlations varies among populations and may change over time. The authors emphasize the need to interpret these correlations cautiously, as they are relatively modest and should not be misused or exaggerated to promote certain agendas.
Instead, they hope the study will encourage interdisciplinary research across fields like economics, sociology, anthropology, and psychology to gain a deeper understanding of why people choose the partners they do and how it affects society.
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