Similarity and its link to strength, success and general happiness in interpersonal relationshipsSince time immemorial, social interactions and the relationships that arise have often been explained by the old adage “birds of a feather flock together”. This refers to a simple fact of human nature: we are most attracted to things that share traits with us. For example, those who have a penchant for thrill-seeking behaviors and activities will not be attracted to someone with a malignant nature. Our attraction to similar people promotes cognitive synergy, pack behavior, and a need to cohabit, which are just a few deep-rooted predispositions our early ancestors needed to survive. In short, the desire for similarity is a pure human instinct. However, the equally old adage “Opposites attract” rings just as true as the one mentioned above. As with most things in life, when there is an up, there must be a down. Trait differences, on a purely biological level, promote the genetic stability and increased survivability of a breed. Socially, these differences are like shampoo and conditioner; On their own, they work adequately, but when used together, the result far exceeds the sum of its parts. Balance is often the key to a fulfilling connection. While it's almost impossible to discern the perfect ingredients for building relationships, it stands to reason that the presence of similarities (or lack thereof) between two people can have an effect on their first meeting, their future interactions, and their eventual involvement. in love. Whether it has purely physical or social origins, research and associated observations argue that the role of similarity is not as simple as a simple mi...... middle of paper ... ...ity Dimensions, similarity and Marital quality. Journal of Family Psychology, 18(4), 564-574. doi:10.1037/0893-3200.18.4.564Gonzaga, G.C., Campos, B., & Bradbury, T. (2007). Similarity, convergence, and relationship satisfaction in romantic and married couples. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 93(1), 34-48. doi:10.1037/0022-3514.93.1.34Hoppmann, C.A., Gerstorf, D., Willis, S.L., & Schaie, K. (2011). Marital interrelationships in happiness in the Seattle Longitudinal Study: Considerable similarities in levels and changes over time. Developmental Psychology, 47(1), 1-8. doi:10.1037/a0020788Lee, K., Ashton, MC, Pozzebon, JA, Visser, BA, Bourdage, JS, & Ogunfowora, B. (2009). Similarity and assumed similarity in personality reports of well-known people. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 96(2), 460-472. doi:10.1037/a0014059