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Psyche When do opposites really attract?
There have been discussions for some time about whether to dress in a relationship. Do people in a relationship judge differently what qualities and which looks appealing or attractive to them? Researchers now found out that our relationship status affects whether we find other people attractive or not. People in a relationship, for example, prefer a partner who is more like them. Singles are more of the opinion that opposites attract.
When people look for a partner, they choose not only because of existing characteristics and good looks. It is also very important that the characteristics of both partners complement each other. Researchers at Charles University in the Czech Republic have now discovered in an investigation that people in a relationship prefer a partner that resembles them in many ways. Singles, on the other hand, prefer partners that are not similar to them. The physicians published the results of their study in the journal "Frontiers in Psychology".
Does it make a difference what kind of people we find attractive when we are in a relationship? Researchers found that singles and couples fundamentally feel differently about whether a person looks attractive to them. (Image: Andrey Popov / fotolia.com) People in relationships prefer similar partners
In a recent study, researchers found that people in a relationship are basically looking for a partner who is similar to them. The partner should be in tune with our wishes, thoughts and attitudes in order to better understand ourselves and to share common interests with us. So people in a relationship also rather attractive faces that resemble their own face, the authors explain.
Singles are looking for partners that are different from them
The situation is different for people without a permanent partner. In singles, not a similar face looks attractive, but just the opposite. Singles prefer a look and characteristics to their partners, which differ from their own, explains the main author. Jitka Lindova from Charles University in the Czech Republic.
Study verifies the estimation of attractiveness in a hundred subjects
During their research, the physicians showed one hundred students a series of photographs of faces. Afterwards the subjects were asked to rate these pictures according to their attractiveness, explain the scientists. Before viewing the images, the participants were asked if they are in a relationship, the experts add. Subjects had to choose in their assessment of attractiveness, whether they found certain faces more attractive for a lasting relationship or for a short-term romance. When participants were not in a relationship, they rated dissimilar faces as attractive and sexy. The effect was observed both in the evaluation of same-sex as well as faces of the opposite sex.
New results clearly show that a relationship affects what we find attractive
For the first time, we have observed that the status of our sentiment influences what kind of people we find attractive, Dr. Lindova. Earlier research had found that we find faces of strangers attractive when they resemble our own face. However, very little was known about our relationship status affecting this process, adds the physician.
Couples show less attention to the attractiveness of other people
One reason why people in a relationship might develop a liking for similar people is that this strategy should prevent us from looking for other partners. Couples just seem to have less attention for the sexual attractiveness of other people, say the physicians. We tend to immediately find deficiencies in other objectively attractive people so as to avoid a possible temptation, the researchers explain.
Our brain tries to help people to live in a relationship
Singles may prefer partners that are not similar to them, because they are looking for a new partner especially for biodiversity and genetically suitable producers for offspring, the scientists explain. Partners who are not similar to us are usually genetically better suited for reproduction. When people are dissatisfied with their relationship, they begin to find people who are not similar looking more attractive. Monogamy does not really seem to be an integral part of our lives, but our brains try their best to help people stay connected, the authors add. (As)