Evidence suggests that opposites do not attract in matters of love

Contrary to popular belief, opposites do not actually attract. That’s the fascinating conclusion drawn from a comprehensive analysis conducted by CU Boulder. The study, which examined over 130 traits and millions of couples spanning more than a century, reveals that “birds of a feather” are more likely to flock together. Tanya Horwitz, the first author of the study, explains that the findings challenge the age-old saying that “opposites attract.” The research found that for the majority of traits analyzed, partners were more likely to be similar than different. This discovery not only sheds light on the dynamics of human relationships but also has significant implications for genetic research. The study suggests that human mating is not random, as previously assumed, and that “assortative mating” can influence genetic studies. The authors conducted a meta-analysis of previous research and analyzed their own data, including a dataset from the UK Biobank. Traits such as political and religious attitudes, education level, and IQ showed high correlations among couples. Substance use habits also exhibited strong correlations, with heavy smokers, heavy drinkers, and teetotalers tending to partner with individuals who shared similar habits. However, traits like height, weight, medical conditions, and personality traits showed lower but still positive correlations. The study did find a few traits where there seemed to be a negative correlation, such as chronotype, tendency to worry, and hearing difficulty, but further research is needed to understand these findings. The authors emphasize that couples share traits for various reasons, including growing up in the same area, being attracted to similar individuals, or becoming more similar over time. These shared traits can have downstream consequences, potentially impacting future generations and societal divisions. The study also highlights that the strength of correlations for traits varies across populations and may change over time. The researchers caution against overstating the modest correlations found and urge for interdisciplinary research to explore the complexities of human relationships. This study opens the door for further analysis and understanding of why people end up in the relationships they do.