Isolde Posted December 7, 2008 Posted December 7, 2008 Am I the only one that's a bit creeped out by couples that look like siblings or people who date a younger version of their dads? I know people are attracted to familiarity, and I don't blame them, but it gets to be a little much sometimes...I have a hard time imagining myself feeling attracted to someone who looked very similar to me. My parents don't really look alike and neither did any of my grandparents, is this a modern thing to be attracted to those that look like you? Of course if you fall in love with someone that happens to look like you, you can't help that, but I feel that lookalike couples are actually becoming kinda "trendy", they're very prevalent in Hollywood too. Do you think people who look alike are also more likely to click on an emotional level? I can't imagine this being the case. Discuss thoughts.
betterthandead Posted December 7, 2008 Posted December 7, 2008 The more you have in common with another person, the easier the relationship.
wuggle Posted December 7, 2008 Posted December 7, 2008 my mum is really ugly so if my wife looked like her I'd have to leave her !!!
anne1707 Posted December 7, 2008 Posted December 7, 2008 As "Mrs Wuggle", I have to say that his mother is REALLY ugly and if I looked like her then I would never go out in public. Got to say that Wuggle looks more like his father luckily.....
Geishawhelk Posted December 7, 2008 Posted December 7, 2008 Well let's hope Mrs. Wuggle Senior isn't about to comment......!
Benique Posted December 7, 2008 Posted December 7, 2008 When the partners look alike,they are mostly alike in other aspects as well (from the own observation). This helps.
fral945 Posted December 7, 2008 Posted December 7, 2008 Look alike is a little weird, I'll admit. But I think it is perfectly logical that a person is more physically attracted to someone that looks like their opposite sex parent just from a familiarity and comfort standpoint. I've seen older pictures of my mother and grandmother, and it amazes me (and is a little creepy, I have to admit ) that the women I am most attracted to look like they did when they were around my age.
blind_otter Posted December 7, 2008 Posted December 7, 2008 Am I the only one that's a bit creeped out by couples that look like siblings or people who date a younger version of their dads? Do you think people who look alike are also more likely to click on an emotional level? I can't imagine this being the case. Discuss thoughts. NO, you are not the only one who is creeped out by this phenomena. I think it's really odd, myself, and also excessively creepy. Personally, I have always been attracted to men who do NOT look like me. Tall, fair haired, blue eyed men. I don't find men who look like me attractive, at all. I don't think people who look alike are more likely to click, emotionally. I can't see how phenotype would affect intellect or personality all that much.
johan Posted December 7, 2008 Posted December 7, 2008 I briefly dated a woman who, over time, I started to realize was a lot like my sister. That turned me off in a big way and I had to stop with her. I've never understood the "she's just like mom" or "she's just like my sister" thing. I look for women who are nothing like my family members. Unfortunately that seems to have opened the door to emotionally unstable women, not just the tall and blonde ones.
addidas Posted December 7, 2008 Posted December 7, 2008 maybe it helps if you are a single child or weren't close with your cousins, then you wouldn't perceive them to be so alike.
Author Isolde Posted December 7, 2008 Author Posted December 7, 2008 I'm attracted to guys that resemble my late maternal grandfather a bit. Thats not as creepy though because its more removed. And I myself look nothing like him. I'm attracted to guys that remind me of aspects of both parents personality wise, but not lookswise.
Author Isolde Posted December 7, 2008 Author Posted December 7, 2008 The more you have in common with another person, the easier the relationship. Maybe, but that sounds a bit boring to me... The way I see it, you get to CHOOSE your partner (you can't choose your family), so why would you choose someone that's already practically in your gene pool? It's doesn't sound like sound biology to me. Biologically we're supposed to be attracted to people that are genetically similar but with enough dispararities in genes and immune systems to create offspring that have the best of both. ALSO people change over time... I'm a chameleon ^_^ and I'm still only 22. No guarantees that someone who is just like you and understands you NOW will always be that way.
You'reasian Posted December 7, 2008 Posted December 7, 2008 Of course if you fall in love with someone that happens to look like you, you can't help that, but I feel that lookalike couples are actually becoming kinda "trendy", they're very prevalent in Hollywood too. Do you think people who look alike are also more likely to click on an emotional level? I can't imagine this being the case. Discuss thoughts. I'd be okay with it. I'm attracted to women who share similar mixed ethnic backgrounds as myself.
anne1707 Posted December 7, 2008 Posted December 7, 2008 so why would you choose someone that's already practically in your gene pool? It's doesn't sound like sound biology to me. . In terms of evolutionary psychology, it actually makes perfect sense.
You'reasian Posted December 7, 2008 Posted December 7, 2008 Maybe, but that sounds a bit boring to me... The way I see it, you get to CHOOSE your partner (you can't choose your family), so why would you choose someone that's already practically in your gene pool? It's doesn't sound like sound biology to me. Biologically we're supposed to be attracted to people that are genetically similar but with enough dispararities in genes and immune systems to create offspring that have the best of both.. Its hard to be in my gene pool lol (insert eugencist joke here) - so just about any kind of biology mixed with my own would create diverse offspring. ALSO people change over time... I'm a chameleon ^_^ and I'm still only 22. No guarantees that someone who is just like you and understands you NOW will always be that way. Especially true when you are in your early 20's - you will change so much over the next 5-6 years. Women change more than men, Id' wager but that's just my biased opinion.
Author Isolde Posted December 7, 2008 Author Posted December 7, 2008 In terms of evolutionary psychology, it actually makes perfect sense. Can you explain? If two people have extremely similar gene pools, their kids will be vulnerable to certain defects and diseases, physical and mental, because the immunological umbrella wouldn't be broad enough to protect them. This has been proven. The only case in which I can see this might be evolutionarily good is if the two individuals involved are uber-humans--10/10 in looks, geniuses, kind, healthy... you get the picture.
Author Isolde Posted December 7, 2008 Author Posted December 7, 2008 my mum is really ugly so if my wife looked like her I'd have to leave her !!! I thought everyone thought their mum was beautiful
Author Isolde Posted December 7, 2008 Author Posted December 7, 2008 Its hard to be in my gene pool lol (insert eugencist joke here) - so just about any kind of biology mixed with my own would create diverse offspring. This is true of me as well as I'm also a mutt. However, I'm far more attracted to certain ethnicities than others, so I guess not all of it is genetic preferences on my part I think guys change as much as girls at my age actually....???
Author Isolde Posted December 7, 2008 Author Posted December 7, 2008 NO, you are not the only one who is creeped out by this phenomena. I think it's really odd, myself, and also excessively creepy. Personally, I have always been attracted to men who do NOT look like me. Tall, fair haired, blue eyed men. I don't find men who look like me attractive, at all. Ditto... at least one person agrees with me...
anne1707 Posted December 7, 2008 Posted December 7, 2008 Can you explain? If two people have extremely similar gene pools, their kids will be vulnerable to certain defects and diseases, physical and mental, because the immunological umbrella wouldn't be broad enough to protect them. This has been proven. The only case in which I can see this might be evolutionarily good is if the two individuals involved are uber-humans--10/10 in looks, geniuses, kind, healthy... you get the picture. Because in evolutionary terms, it makes more sense to protect your own family (including extended) to promote the chances of procreation of your family gene pool. Somebody who has a resemblance to a family member (no matter if not immediately obvious) could be an indicator of a closer genetic relationship therefore would help maiintain the strength of the overall family gene pool.
johan Posted December 7, 2008 Posted December 7, 2008 Because in evolutionary terms, it makes more sense to protect your own family (including extended) to promote the chances of procreation of your family gene pool. Somebody who has a resemblance to a family member (no matter if not immediately obvious) could be an indicator of a closer genetic relationship therefore would help maiintain the strength of the overall family gene pool. When you put it like that, maybe inbreeding is not such a bad thing after all.
marlena Posted December 7, 2008 Posted December 7, 2008 My mother had a theory that truly "happy" couples began to look alike as if each, over the course of time, took on the outward characteristics of the other because of the close connection they shared. So I began to look around at happy couples and lo and behold I did see what she meant. Much like dogs start to look like their masters lol!!
porter218 Posted December 7, 2008 Posted December 7, 2008 Because in evolutionary terms, it makes more sense to protect your own family (including extended) to promote the chances of procreation of your family gene pool. Somebody who has a resemblance to a family member (no matter if not immediately obvious) could be an indicator of a closer genetic relationship therefore would help maiintain the strength of the overall family gene pool. Ummm..No inbreeding isn't going to strengthen your family gene pool but instead it will weaken it. Genetic disorders will become more prevalent. I too am a little creeped out by a couple who look very much alike. It makes me wonder if they would date their siblings if it wasn't for the social stigma. Personally I like men that look like the exact opposite of me. My parents don't look alike at all and I don't look anything like my H. I would worry too much that a man who looks like me is a distant cousin and then I would be too grossed out to have sex with him.
Author Isolde Posted December 7, 2008 Author Posted December 7, 2008 No, I think it's cute when married couples begin to resemble one another in that intangible way, but there's a big difference between that and looking like siblings.
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