Here is my Paper Outline
1. Introduction
Brief overview of the “Opposites Attract” notion and its prevalence in societal beliefs about romantic relationships.
Introduction to the research question and its significance in the field of personality psychology and relationship studies.
2. Theoretical Background on Personality in Relationships
Big Five Personality Traits: Define each (Openness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, Neuroticism) and discuss their relevance in romantic relationships.
Attachment Styles: Overview of attachment theory and its implications for adult romantic relationships.
Emotional Intelligence: Its role in understanding and managing emotions within a romantic context.
3. Similarity vs. Complementarity in Romantic Relationships
Similarity-Attraction Theory: Discuss how and why similarity in personality can lead to attraction.
Complementary Theory: Explore the idea that differences can complement and strengthen a relationship.
Interpersonal Process Model of Intimacy: How do personality traits influence the development of intimacy and understanding between partners?
4. Role of Personality Matching in Relationship Satisfaction
Empirical Evidence: Summarize key findings from studies examining the correlation between personality trait similarity and relationship satisfaction.
Compatibility Factors: Discuss how factors like communication style, conflict resolution strategies, and sexual compatibility are influenced by personality traits.
Moderating Factors: Consider the influence of gender, culture, and relationship length on the relationship between personality similarity and relationship satisfaction.
5. Importance of Shared Values and Beliefs
Discuss how shared values (e.g., regarding family, religion, politics, lifestyle) contribute to relationship success and how they might interact with personality traits.
6. Analyzing Relationship Outcomes
Happiness and Health in Relationships: Review studies comparing the relationship outcomes of couples with similar vs. different personalities.
Longevity and Quality of Relationships: What does the research say about the longevity and quality of relationships based on personality matching?
7. Critical Perspectives and Debates
Address any criticisms or limitations of the theories and studies you’ve discussed.
Explore any emerging theories or counterarguments that challenge traditional views on personality similarity in relationships.
8. Conclusion and Future Directions
Summarize the key findings and their implications for understanding romantic relationships.
Suggest areas for future research that could further elucidate the complexities of personality dynamics in romantic partnerships.
9. References
Cite all the sources from the journals you’ve used to support your arguments and discussions.
Here is the Paper Rubric:
You should turn in a 10-page paper that addresses the question specified in your approved paper topic. The paper should include at least 10 references from the approved journal list (see the assignment for the article summaries for that list). You can also include additional references that come from other journals, but you must have at least 10 from the approved list. Your paper should use the information from those papers to answer the question you set out to address in your paper topic.
In terms of formatting, you should roughly follow APA format. You should have a title page but you do not need an abstract (do not put your name on the title page, just the title). You should write 10 full pages of text; the title page and reference section do not count as part of the 10 pages. You can include tables and figures if you want (they are not necessary), but these also do not count towards the 10-page requirement.
Your paper should be 12-point, Times New Roman font, double-spaced throughout. You should have 1 inch margins, and you should not add extra spaces between paragraphs.
You should cite your references in APA format. That means that when describing a paper in your text, you put the references in parentheses. If you want to name the author in the sentence you write something like this: “Lucas (2020) conducted a study examining the effects of life events on happiness.” If you just want to state a fact and acknowledge where it comes from, you would write something like this: “Many people adapt to major life events (Lucas, 2020).” If you use a direct quote, make sure to put it in quotation marks, but try to use direct quotes sparingly. You should be able to put things in your own words. Also, remember, we do use Turn It In to check for overlap with other sources. Make sure you have a reference section at the end of the paper, using APA format for your references.
You will be graded on the following criteria:
Organization of paper: Does the organization of the paper make sense? Are transitions between paragraphs and sections clear? Remember to avoid simply listing one reference after the other; you should develop points and arguments and use information from references where appropriate.
Content of paper: Are the sources relevant to answering the question posed in the paper? Try to choose references that are very clearly related to the question you are addressing. Some papers may cover a similar topic, but without really being relevant to the specific question you are addressing. You should make it very clear how the information from the reference informs the question you are addressing. Does the paper provide a thorough answer to the question it poses?
Quality of the writing: Are sentences well organized? Is the paper free of typos? Is the writing clear and direct? Remember the guidance in lecture from early on in the semester (those slides are posted). Focus on writing simple, direct sentences!
Formatting: Is the paper the correct length? Does the paper have the correct font, spacing, margins, etc.?
Here is the approved Journal list for the articles: 10 required from this list but can have more than 10.
Journal List (those at the top of the list will be most relevant):
Journal of Personality and Social Psychology
Journal of Personality
European Journal of Personality
Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin
Personality Science
Social Psychological and Personality Science
Psychological Science
Psychology and Aging
Developmental Psychology
Journal of Applied Psychology
Proceedings of the National Academies of Science
Science
Nature: Human Behavior
Journals That Publish Review Articles:
Annual Review of Psychology
Psychological Bulletin
Psychological Review
Advances in Methods and Practices in Psychological Science
Perspectives on Psychological Science
American Psychologist
Personality and Social Psychology Review
Current Directions in Psychological Science
Here is the current articles I have summaries (two are not from the approved list):
Acutelli, L. K., Kenny, D. A., & Weiner, D. (2001). The Importance of Similarity and Understanding of Partners’ Marital Ideals to Relationship Satisfaction. Personal Relationships, 8(2), 167–185. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1475-6811.2001.tb00034.x
Acutelli, Kenny, and Weiner (2001) examined the importance of similarity and understanding of partners’ marital ideals on relationship satisfaction. The researchers aimed to understand how closely aligned marital ideals and the ability to comprehend one’s partner’s ideals influence relationship satisfaction over time. This study is important as it investigates factors contributing to successful relationships, highlighting the importance of shared values and effective communication. The researchers analyzed 80 couples, using surveys and interviews to track changes in marital ideals and satisfaction levels. Results revealed that similarities in marital ideals and the ability to understand one’s partner’s ideals correlate with higher relationship satisfaction. Couples with shared values and mutual understanding reported higher satisfaction levels over time. Their results suggest that having shared values and effective communication contribute to relationship satisfaction, countering the notion and basis of my paper that “opposites attract.”
Botwin, M. D., Buss, D. M., & Shackelford, T. K. (2005). Personality and mate preferences: Five factors in mate selection and marital satisfaction. Journal of Personality, 65(1), 107–136. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-6494.1997.tb00531.x
Botwin, Buss, and Shackelford (2005) investigated the relationship between personality traits, mate preferences, and their impact on mate selection and marital satisfaction. Researchers aimed to determine the role of the Big Five personality traits in influencing partner selection and satisfaction in marriage. This study is important as it examines the reasons behind partner choices and their consequences on relationships. The researchers conducted a comprehensive analysis with a large participant sample. Surveys based on the Big Five model were used to evaluate personality traits and mate preferences, including physical attractiveness, status, and kindness. Results indicated a preference for partners with similar personality traits, predicting higher relationship satisfaction and stability. Their findings challenge the idea that “Opposites Attract” and emphasize the importance of compatibility in personality for long-term marital happiness.
Decuyper, M., De Bolle, M., & De Fruyt, F. (2011). Personality Similarity, Perceptual Accuracy, and Relationship Satisfaction in Dating and Married Couples. Personal Relationships, 19(1), 128–145. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1475-6811.2010.01344.x
Decuyper et al. (2011) explored how personality similarity and perception accuracy influence relationship satisfaction in couples. They examined whether accurately perceiving a partner’s personality traits affects satisfaction levels. As we have learned, personality alignment is important in shaping relationship dynamics, emphasizing the importance of compatible personalities for relationship success. The researchers employed a comprehensive approach, using the NEO Personality Inventory, to measure personality through self-reports and partner assessments. The study included both dating and married couples who rated their partner’s personality. Results indicated that people perceive their partner’s personality traits more accurately when they share similar personalities. Additionally, higher accuracy in perception correlated with greater relationship satisfaction. Interestingly, dating couples demonstrated greater accuracy in perception compared to married couples, suggesting variability in perception accuracy across relationship stages. This study increases the reliability that individuals are more likely to have successful relationships when they understand their partner’s personality traits.
Gaunt, R. (2006). Couple similarity and marital satisfaction: Are similar spouses happier? Journal of Personality, 74(5), 1401–1420. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-6494.2006.00414.x
Gaunt (2006) examined how similarity among couples relates to marital satisfaction. The study aimed to determine whether spouses with similar characteristics tend to have happier marriages. The study also makes us look deeper into the findings of Decuyper et al. (2011), which suggests that dating couples tend to understand each other better, leading to happier and more successful relationships than married couples. Gaunt used longitudinal data involving married couples, employing self-report measures to assess spouses’ personalities and values and validated scales to measure marital satisfaction. The findings, again, showed that couples with similar personality traits, values, and attitudes tend to have higher marital satisfaction levels. However, the study by Decuyper et al. (2011) could question the consistency of this perception accuracy across relationship stages. Gaunt’s study challenges the idea that “Opposites Attract” by showing a fourth positive link between couple similarity and marital satisfaction. It also prompts reflection on how relationship satisfaction among similar individuals changes over time compared to the dating phase.
Schaffhuser, K., Allemand, M., & Martin, M. (2014). Personality traits and relationship satisfaction in intimate couples: Three perspectives on personality. European Journal of Personality, 28(2), 120–133. https://doi.org/10.1002/per.1948
Schaffhuser, Allemand, and Martin (2014) conducted a study to explore the relationship between personality traits and relationship satisfaction in intimate couples from three different perspectives on personality. The study aimed to understand how various aspects of personality impact overall satisfaction levels within romantic partnerships. The researchers used a longitudinal design, tracking 256 couples over time. They assessed personality traits using the NEO Five-Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI) and measured relationship satisfaction using validated scales. The study revealed that personality traits like agreeableness and emotional stability were positively associated with relationship satisfaction. Additionally, the results demonstrated that individuals’ perception of their own and their partner’s personality traits greatly influence relationship satisfaction. Like the others above, this study stresses the importance of considering both partners’ personalities in understanding romantic relationships. This study also challenges the conventional belief that “Opposites Attract,” providing a fifth insight that increases the reliability of similar studies.
This is the Paper Title: Personality Concordance in Marital Partners: Unraveling if Opposites do Attract.
Here is the paper question/topic: This research paper will investigate whether individuals tend to marry those with similar or different personalities, challenging the long-lived statement “Opposites Attract.” I will examine whether couples with similar or different personalities have happier and healthier relationships by reviewing outside research on this topic, such as studies using self-report measures of personality and observer ratings of personality.
1. Do individuals tend to marry those with similar or different personalities? 2. How does personality similarity or dissimilarity affect relationship satisfaction and health?
I CAN DO THE COVER! This is a HUGE grade and uses Turnitin and AI detection. I just gone through a SA case (a week ago) and have not been the same since but my paper is still due. It was due the 7th but I asked for an extension. Prof did not respond yet as to when it is due, but I have class tmr monring at 8:30 and in CASE he wants proof I have started it I need extra help fast. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE help.
