Forget about opposites attracting. We tend to be drawn to people who look like us because they are likely to share similar personality traits. A recent study suggests that the longer we stay together, the more our appearances begin to resemble each other.
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| As couples grow older, they tend to look more alike (Image: LiveScience, VNE) |
Researchers have explored why couples often resemble each other physically. They asked 11 men and 11 women to evaluate the age, attractiveness, and personality traits of 160 married couples. The photos of husbands and wives were viewed independently, so volunteers did not know who was married to whom.
The experiments showed that men and women judged by volunteers to look similar and share personality traits were indeed couples. Moreover, the longer couples were together, the more similarities became apparent.
Researchers speculate that shared life experiences may have influenced the physical appearances of couples.
The notion of a connection between appearance and personality may seem odd at first, but it could stem from biological factors, according to Tony Little, a member of the research team from the University of Liverpool in the UK.
“Testosterone is thought to shape masculine features and also affects behavior. Similarly, our faces express our emotions, and over time, the way we express these emotions may be etched onto our faces,” Little explained. For instance, someone who smiles often will likely develop more wrinkles and muscle patterns that indicate happiness.
Other studies have shown that couples with genetic compatibility often enjoy happier marriages. Similarities in personality and physical characteristics may serve as a way to identify this genetic similarity.
T. An (according to LiveScience)
