With whom are you compatible enough to make a commitment?
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Personality type has a role to play in how compatible individuals are in relationships, and especially partnerships. There are other considerations, such as socio-economic background and basic intelligence, but it's worth taking at look at how well your personality meshes with each of the sixteen types. In this section of PersonalityPage, we take a deep dive into how well the types match up.
How important is personality compatibility to the success of intimate relationships? This 2017 study, published in Social, Psychological and Personality Science, concluded that the top three reasons people in a dating relationship choose to stay in a relationship are 1) good personality match, 2) emotional intimacy, and 3) enjoyment of the relationship. Married individuals choose to stay for 1) emotional intimacy, 2) investment in the relationship, and 3) logistical barriers to leaving, i.e. family/children/divorce complications.
The one similarity between married and dating partners' top reasons for staying together is emotional intimacy, which implies that mutual trust, kindness and respect are primary drivers for relationship success. Many studies have pointed to the conclusion that kindness and generosity are the secrets to lasting relationships, (check out this Atlantic article,) and somehow so many of us forget to bring our best, kindest selves to those closest to us.
Unlike the reasons for staying together in short-term relationships, personality and enjoyment don't top the list for long-term relationships. One might assume that personality compatibility becomes less important as a relationship ages, or that human nature takes over after the newness of a relationship fades, causing people to get complacent and take their partners for granted. Whatever the explanation for the different reasons for staying together in the short-term vs. long-term, it's clear that long-term relationships have a lot more exposure to the rough patches of life, and may require work and dedication to keep things healthy. It's probable that having a good personality match would make that process easier, but there's no guarantee of success.
Learn more about compatibility issues for specific types
