Test Your Knowledge Of Attraction And Relationships!

Research indicates that when we first meet someone who is physically attractive, we tend to assume that the individual also possesses a variety of other positive qualities as well, including intelligence. This is referred to as the ‘halo effect’ or the ‘what is beautiful is good’ stereotype.

Yes, it is false. Recently, researchers reviewed the findings of 313 studies and found that similarity on personality traits and attitudes had no effect on relationship well-being in established relationships. Another study of 23,000 married couples showed that similarity accounted for a mere 0.5% of how satisfied spouses were with their marriages. For this reason, relationship scientists seriously question the claims of online dating sites that promise to find you your soul mate simply by introducing you to similar others!

The news media often tout headlines suggesting that simply being in a relationship is good for your health – you are less vulnerable to getting sick, more likely to live longer, etc. While that is partially true, the science on this topic is slightly more nuanced. It is good for your health to have a good quality relationship. However, there is some powerful evidence that relationship conflict can impair the immune system. For instance, in one study married couples were given a series of small standardized wounds, or suction blisters, so the researchers could watch how they healed over time. The couples also engaged in several discussions regarding important marital issues, so the researcher could assess how the couples managed conflict. The wounds of couples who had lower levels of hostile behaviors in their interactions healed 40% faster than those that did have hostility. It seems a poor quality relationship could actually make you sick!

Though it is a common belief in popular culture that men and women provide different kinds of support, studies examining the support exchanges between partners have not found evidence for this belief. Numerous studies have brought couples into the lab where they can be observed discussing important issues. In all of these studies, the same finding emerges. Men and women do not differ in the kind of support they tend to provide. Women are just as likely as men to provide instrumental support, and men are just as likely as women to provide emotional support.