Similarities and Differences in Scores on Certain Personality Scales among Engaged Couples

Abstract

The EPPS was given to 19 engaged couples to determine personality trends in mate selection. All couples were undergraduates at college (Long Island area). The personality variables were achievement (Ach), deference (Def), order (Ord), exhibition (Exh), autonomy (Aut), affiliation (Aff), intraception (Int), succorance (Suc), dominance (Dom), abasement (Aba), nurturance (Nur), change (Chg), endurance (End), heterosexuality (Het), and aggression (Agg). It was hypothesized on the basis of prior studies that mate selection, for this sample, would rest upon some complementary needs rather than homogamy of needs. It was found that males scored significantly higher than females in Dom, Ach, and End and females scored significantly higher than males in Nur, Aff, and Aba, supporting the idea that mate selection is based on complementary needs.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Bowerman

Day

A test of the theory of complementary needs as applied to couples during courtship. Amer. sociol. Rev., 1956, 21, 602–605.

Haber

Runyon

R. P.

General statistics. Boston: Addison-Wesley, 1969.

Ktsanes

Mate selection on the basis of personality type: A study utilizing an empirical typology of personality. Amer. sociol. Rev., 1955, 20, 547–557.

Schellenberg

Bee

A re-examination of the theory of complementary needs in mate selection. Marriage & Family Liv., 1960, 22, 227–232.

Tharp

Psychological patterning in marriage. Psychol. Bull., 1963, 60, 97–117.

Udry

Personality match and interpersonal perception as predictors of marriage. J. Marriage & Family, 1967, 29, 722–725.

Winch

The theory of complementary needs in mate selection: Final results on the test of the general hypothesis. Amer. sociol. Rev., 1955, 20, 532–555.