Relationship Scientists Rewrite Definition of Romantic Compatibility Based on
Nationwide Study of Marital Satisfaction; Results Submitted for Publication in
Leading Psychology Journal
DALLAS, June 10 /PRNewswire/ -- TRUEBeginnings(TM) today announced that it
is redefining what it means to be romantically compatible, debunking current
thinking with new research and giving singles a new view of successful
relationships. Investigating the marital satisfaction of more than
1,100 individuals, the TRUEBeginnings scientific study concludes that a
couple's similarities are only part of what determines their long-term
compatibility in a romantic relationship, and that a couple's differences play
an equal, if not more important role.
Based on its research, TRUEBeginnings -- the only online dating service
with a compatibility test that is endorsed by Psychology Today -- defines
compatibility as "a holistic pattern of shared beliefs and values and mutually
beneficial similarities and differences across personality traits and
demographic preferences." Using advanced statistical analyses, similar to the
types used to construct such well-known achievement tests as the GRE, LSAT and
MCAT, and adhering to the testing standards of the American Psychological
Association, the TRUEBeginnings' research team is the first of its kind to
unlock the secret to successful relationships by exploring and analyzing both
similarities and differences, and how these two areas are affected by levels
of happiness or satisfaction in a relationship.
"Compatibility is a word that is constantly thrown around in our society,
yet it means different things to different people. In order to put some more
context around the term and to better serve our members, we needed to define
the term from an academic perspective," said Dr. James Houran, director of
psychological studies at TRUEBeginnings and a 14-year veteran in the fields of
research and clinical psychology. "Using our approach and methodology, we
knew it was important to not only a couple's similarities, but also their
differences. Non-scientifically based online dating services organize their
methods around the assumption that only 'like' people will make a good couple,
however, similarities are only part of the story. Not accounting for healthy
differences between a couple can limit an individual's odds of finding a
successful and fulfilling relationship. Our understanding of long-term
compatibility, combined with the security measures that we take in screening
our communicating members for criminal backgrounds, uniquely positions us as
the only online relationship service to give singles the confidence they need
to experiment and open their dating pool to a wider audience."
It's No Surprise That Men and Women Differ
In addition to defining compatibility, TRUEBeginnings' research found that
men are slightly more satisfied in their marriages than women -- a finding
that agrees with the research of others. Furthermore, the research uncovered
a new finding -- that marital satisfaction differs in qualitative ways as
well, as men and women tend to be happy or unhappy with different aspects of
their relationships. For example, dissatisfied men tend to focus on gender
role issues and sex life, while dissatisfied women tend to focus on division
of responsibility and their partner's ability to manage stress. Although the
negative consequences of such differences disappear rapidly when a couple
manages to improve their relationship, differences in some aspects, such as
values and money management, often remain a point of contention even for the
happiest couples.
TRUEBeginnings' research indicates that the key to understanding marital
satisfaction is a couple's success in harmonizing, and sometimes even
exploiting differences. "Couples can change their differences into assets and
those who manage to do so have richer and more interesting marriages. In
short, complete similarity is boring! Since no two people are the same,
successful couples are those who are able to accept their differences
realistically and deal with them in a constructive and playful fashion," added
Houran. "Additionally, what matters more than anything, is a couple's
perception of their relationship. Marital satisfaction increases as the
partners stress positive perceptions of their mates."
TRUEBeginnings' survey is part of an ongoing effort to conduct, analyze
and release up-to-date scientific data about relationships and online dating.
Not only is TRUEBeginnings the only online relationship-building service that
is endorsed by Psychology Today, it also publishes its research in such
prominent academic journals as the British Journal of Psychology, Personality
and Individual Differences and Psychological Reports.
About TRUEBeginnings
Founded on the premise that compatibility is the key to long-lasting
relationships, the company has invested millions of dollars in research and
development to deliver quality results to its members via its proprietary
patent-pending TRUE Compatibility Test(TM). The TRUE Compatibility Index(TM),
which is generated by this test, helps members discover themselves, as well as
find partners who are truly compatible. TRUEBeginnings is unique in being the
only site to offer its members peace of mind when searching for perfect
partners, because it screens and excludes individuals with known criminal
backgrounds. For more information, log on to http://www.truebeginnings.com.
For further information please contact Olivia Horoshko of Ogilvy Public
Relations Worldwide, +1-310-248-6183, Olivia.Horoshko@ogilvypr.com, for
TRUEBeginnings.
SOURCE TRUEBeginnings
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Related links:
http://www.truebeginnings.com
CONTACT:
Olivia Horoshko of Ogilvy Public Relations
Worldwide, +1-310-248-6183, Olivia.Horoshko@ogilvypr.com, for
TRUEBeginnings
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