Mate Selection Based Upon Personality Factors

Abstract

The question of who dates whom is one which has aroused considerable popular and scientific interest. The answer is paradoxical, for everyone knows that "like mates like" and that "birds of a feather f lock together" while it is also equally clear that ""opposites attract." Both assertions are partially valid when in the proper circumstances. If by "like mates like" one means similarity between persons in regard to characteristics of race, religion, occupation, education and social status, then the view that mates tend to be similar seems supported by the literature . However, if the phrase is used to describe similarity between persons in their psychological attitudes, traits, or needs, then the situation is unauthenticated. The problem is to determine the factors which influence the mate - selection process and to see whether similarity or difference, or both in some combination, are involved. Interest in understanding mating is an extension from biology where lower animals seem to tend to be similar in size and vitality. On the human level, there is slight evidence for likeness between mates in physical characteristics. Schooley, 1936, p. 344, found low positive correlations existed on height, weight , visual acuity and appearance. Ten variables have been investigated in numerous studies dealing with mate-selection: age, race, religion, ethnic origin, location of previous residence, socio-economic status, extent of formal education, previous marital status, physical beauty and adjustment level. Results of these studies lend support for similarity between mates. It has not been demonstrated, however, that the similarity rule should be applied to psychological or personality characteristics. Because mates tend to have similarity in religion , race, age, etc. does not warrant the conclusion that mates will tend to be similarly aggressive, dominant, orderly, etc. Rather what seems to occur is that after a group of males and females have been sorted based upon similarity of factors, then the pools within which selection occurs have been formed. Then psychological factors influence which male or female will be selected from within the common pools. This psychological influence is next considered. Following the suggestion that persons with complementary psychic make-ups are attracted to each other, Oberndorf, 1944, p. 456, showed that matching occurred between persons who are complementarily neurotic. Winch , 1951, p. 331, developed a theory of mate -selection using concepts of similarity and complementariness. He postulated: Love is the positive emotion experienced by one person (the person loving, or the lover) in an interpersonal relationship in which the second person (the person loved , or love object ) either (a ) meets certain important needs of the first, or (b) manifests or appears (to the first) to manifest personal attributes (e.g. beauty, skills, or status) highly prized by the first, or both. Winch felt that, mate-selection takes place from within a "field of eligibles"; the field is a group of persons who were similar with respect to social characteristics of race, religion, education, occupation, etc. Then mate - selection would pass into a second phase (psychological) where complementariness of needs would occur. The complementariness of psychological needs, such as abasement, achievement, autonomy, dominance, and so on, means each individual seeks within his or her field of eligibles for that person who gives the greatest promise of providing him or her with maximum psychological gratification. Winch based his findings upon the study of twenty- five married couples and although his results proved his complementary theory, Schellenburg and Bee, 1954, p. 229, in an evaluation of Winch ' s effort found that it appears likely that the instruments used in Winch ' s investigation actually do measure highly similar phenomena, with significantly different results limited chiefly to the complementary needs patterns of mates. Perhaps the only conclusion possible is that the theory of complementary needs cannot be considered as adequately grounded empirically until it is based on considerably more evidence than that provided by the 25 couples studied by Winch . This study tries to improve on deficiencies found in earlier studies and is different in a number of ways . The improvements are: (1) Winch used projective techniques (Thermatic Apperception Test) and a content analysis of a group interview which showed very low correlation with his hypothesis. He also used a questionnaire to seek out needs and their degree which proved to have a high correlation with the hypothesis. A revision of Winch's questionnaire is used in this study. (2) Winch used married couples and then attempted to explain how the initial mate attraction process (dating) took place. He made no allowance for the changes which occur in a male-female relationship from initial meeting through dating and finally into marriage. This study uses college students who are not married. It attempts only to show that by using personality needs as the major factor males and females will enjoy each other's company while on a date. It makes no provisions for later dates or marriage. (3) This study agrees with Winch's hypothesis that complementariness is a significant force in male-female relationships but uses different personality assessment instruments. Winch's original questionnaire was modified to form the Clinical Interview Questionnaire which elicits the same fifteen needs measured by the self- report Adjective Check List. Then by comparing both instruments it could be determined whether or not a common factor (needs) were being measured. (4) Lastly, these college students were sent on dates with one another after being matched closely (complementarily) using personality profiles of the fifteen needs. Half of the couples were matched employing the Adjective Check List and the other half using the Clinical Interview Questionnaire. No differences in the subject's ratings of the dates satisfactoriness is expected to result although all the dates are anticipated to be successful. This study investigates the importance of personality on date selection. The basic theory underlying the study is the " complementariness" espoused by Winch. It is hypothesized that persons who possess psychological needs which complement one another (complementariness) will develop a satisfying relationship when in each other's company while on an arranged date. The success of the dates is expected to be significantly in excess of chance in the hypothesized direction. Chi square is the statistic used to compute the results. The sub-hypothesis is that by comparing the dates which the subjects rated as satisfactory to those which they rated unsatisfactory, the overall success of the complementary method will be supported or invalidated. Then by comparing whether more or fewer of the couples who went on dates based upon the Adjective Check List rated them as satisfactory compared to those couples who went on dates based upon the needs measured by the Clinical Interview Questionnaire, whether or not both methods were equally successful would be determined.