Is (Actual or Perceptual) Personality Similarity Associated With Attraction in Initial Romantic Encounters? A Dyadic Response Surface Analysis.

Humberg, S., Gerlach, T. M., Franke-Prasse, T., Geukes, K., & Back, M. D.

Zusammenfassung

Abstract A central assumption in lay and psychological theories is that people are attracted to potential mates who are similar to themselves in personality traits. However, the empirical findings on this idea have been inconclusive. Only a few studies have considered real-life dating contexts, and the statistical approaches they applied have sometimes spuriously identified similarity effects. In our study, 397 heterosexual singles (aged 18–28) participated in real speed-dates (N_dates = 940). Using dyadic response surface analysis, we investigated effects of actual similarity (similarity between self-reported personality trait levels) and perceptual similarity (similarity between an actor's personality and his/her perception of the partner's personality) concerning the Big Five traits. Neither type of similarity was related to initial romantic attraction. That is, the empirical evidence contradicted the idea that attraction occurs when people's personalities match. We conclude that understanding initial attraction requires a deeper understanding of interpersonal dynamics in first encounters. Background A central developmental task in many people's lives is the search for a romantic partner, a “good match.” A widespread assumption among laypersons and psychologists is that people are particularly attracted to individuals who are similar to them in personality traits (i.e., in stable behavioral tendencies; e.g., being similarly extraverted). Why was this study done? Surprisingly, the question of whether personality similarity fosters initial attraction is still empirically unresolved. What did the researchers do and find? In our study, individuals who were currently looking for a romantic partner participated in five speed-dates each. Our findings challenge the widely held assumption of the appeal of personality similarity: Whether individuals were attracted to their dating partner was independent of whether the two individuals were similar in personality—and even independent of perceiving the dating partner's personality as similar to one's own personality. What do these findings mean? Our evidence indicates that actual and perceptual personality similarity might not contribute to solving the task of finding a “good match.” Relevance Statement Does personality similarity matter when people search for a “good match” for them? We investigated this question with two perspectives on similarity (actual and perceptual similarity), naturalistic speed-dating data, and advanced statistical methods. Key Insights • The role of personality similarity for initial attraction is unknown. • Recent statistical developments allow a stringent test of similarity effects. • Personality similarity does not seem to matter for initial attraction. • Even perceptual personality similarity does not seem to matter. • Actor and partner personality are related to attraction.