Opposites may attract, but a new study casts doubt on the old saying and suggests that like minds have a much better chance of getting married and living happily ever after.Researchers found newlywed couples were much more similar in terms of attitudes and values than they were different. In addition, the more similar the couples’ personalities were, the more likely they were to report being happy and satisfied in their marriage."People may be attracted to those who have similar attitudes, values, and beliefs and even marry them -- at least in part -- on the basis of this similarity because attitudes are highly visible and salient characteristics and they are fundamental to the way people lead their lives,” write researcher Shanhong Luo and colleagues of the University of Iowa.But researchers say personality characteristics such as neuroticism, anxiety, extraversion, and openness may take longer to emerge and be accurately interpreted by others and play a more important role later in the relationship.
