Whether it’s Beauty and the Beast or Harry and Sally, the idea that ‘opposites attract’ has been around for centuries.
And now scientists believe it to be true, with new research revealing that matching personalities are not the key to finding ‘The One’.
In a study of almost 1,300 couples, experts at Michigan State University took a closer look at how five big personality traits affected levels of relationship satisfaction.
Emotional volatility, open mindedness and compassion were among these, in addition to how extroverted someone is and their conscientiousness.
While it was clear that many are drawn to partners who are similar, this was not seen to be crucial for long-lasting love.
Michigan State University looked at whether opposites really do attract in new research (file image)
The study’s lead authors, Rebekka Weidmann and Mariah F. Purol, Michigan State University, said: ‘People may be likely to choose partners who are more similar to them, but our research shows that this similarity is not associated with higher life or relationship satisfaction in established couples.
‘Personality facet-level associations are under-researched and our findings revealed some unique insights into which facets are most strongly linked to satisfaction in a relationship and with life in general.’
The US-based researchers looked at couples ranging in age from 19 to 89, who had been together for an average of 30 years.
These couples were faced with numerous questions to paint a picture of how satisfied they were in the relationship and life more generally.
Although differences were not detrimental to relationships, scientists acknowledged that negative emotionality often had the strongest impact on relationship satisfaction.
Meanwhile, open-mindedness made the least difference in both male and female satisfaction – encompassing intellect, imagination and sensitivity to appearances.
Similar personality traits were seen to have a minimal effect on relationship longevity (file image)
Partners who were more extraverted, agreeable, conscientious, open-minded and less negatively emotional were reported to be most satisfied overall.
The Elsevier study comes despite numerous other research projects suggesting the complete opposite is true.
A 2013 analysis of eHarmony’s Compatibility Matching System found that similarity was actually key to making a relationship last, even though opposites may be attracted to each other at first.
For instance, the study claimed that a submissive person may feel initial attraction to a dominant person, but two dominant figures are better suited overall.
In the midst of these mixed results, Gin Lalli, a psychotherapist from Edinburgh, explained that ‘opposites attract’ is complicated.
She told MailOnline: ‘The point of view that we don’t need someone exactly like us tends to come with maturity, once we get more comfortable in our own skin and more self-confident then we can don’t feel as threatened by differences and can keep our own sense of identity well protected while still being with a partner who is different.’
‘Opposites attract’ could be especially beneficial for introverts, with extroverts helping them come out of their shells more, Ms Lalli shared.
She added that someone who is quite spontaneous or impulsive may feel more grounded if they were in a relationship with a ‘practical and pragmatic’ person.
Ms Lalli continued: ‘There can be downsides to opposites too though. Communication and conflict resolution can be difficult when people have different communication styles.
‘I think it’s not so important to consider whether you are different or the same as your partner, you should be guided more by the fact you have shared values, mutual respect, want similar things in your future and are committed to work through challenges together.’
Psychologist Patapia Tzotzoli also agreed to this, with many people drawn to differences that seem novel and interesting.
She said: ‘There is some truth is the idea that “opposites attract”. In fact, research has shown that people are often attracted to those who are different from themselves in some way. That may be because we are naturally drawn to things that are novel and interesting, and people who are different from us often fit that bill.
‘Although at times the work in a relationship between two “different” people might feel harder, if there is mutual respect, open mindedness, communication and a willingness to work through challenges together, they can still build a strong and lasting relationship between them.’
