Relationship Tip: Looking for love? Find someone like you

A preponderance of research in social psychology shows relationships are far more likely to last if both partners share common beliefs and interests. Even more surprising, a relationship in which both individuals are comparable in the looks department has a better chance of surviving than one where one person is clearly "out of the other's league."

Though you may have heard that "opposites do attract," thus far, no research has been able to back up that assertion.

So what does this mean for us?

If you're single and looking for the pet-loving, bookish, sports aficionado type, you may never find exactly what you seek, but it pays to find someone who at least meets most of your criteria. And if there's something you refuse to compromise on, I.e., he must be a devout Catholic, then stick to your guns and wait for the right person. You don't want to settle for someone who strays too far from what you want in a mate; if you do, you'll be in for a rocky ride.

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