Skip to main content

Empathy Causes Facial Similarity Between Couples to Increase Over Time


Would you believe that people who live with each other for 25 years actuallydevelop similar facial features? I don't just mean that people tend to choose partners who resemble them, rather that over time together couple's features actually converge. It's weird, but there's evidence for it from a singular study carried out by the noted psychologist Robert Zajonc and colleagues.

Here's what they did.

110 participants were shown photographs of men and women in their first year of marriage and of the same couples after 25 years of marriage. Then they were asked to judge their resemblance along with the chance that any man and woman were married to each other. The researchers went to a lot of effort to remove extraneous info and crop photos so that only faces could be seen.

The types of choices the participants made indicated the perception was that couples became more facially similar after 25 years together. The results could not be explained by people simply all looking the same as they got older. Also, data from a control group indicated participants were indeed making judgements on the basis of facial features rather than any other criteria.

So this means if you stick around with your partner, you'll end up looking more like them after a couple of decades. Which naturally raises the question: why?

Here are the possible explanations the authors suggest:

1. Diet. If you share your diet with another person it's possible this is the cause. For example if both partners eat a high fat diet, both their faces will tend to look chubby. The authors, however, ruled this out using an additional small study.

2. Environment. It could be that it's because couples live together in the same area. This means that environmental factors such as sunshine and so on affect the skin in similar ways. The authors rule this one out as well because all their married couples came from the same part of the US Midwest and were matched on a number of other socioeconomic variables.

3. Predisposition. This is the idea that people are more likely to choose partners who will grow to look like them. E.g. depressed people are attracted to each other, so end up looking depressed. The authors give this one a maybe, although it is not their favourite option.

4. Empathy. This is the theory the authors like - and so do I. People grow to look similar because they are empathising with each other and so copying each other's facial expressions. Over time because of all the empathising they are doing, their faces come to look more similar. For example, if one partner often smiles in a particular way, the other is likely to copy it - so creating similar patterns of wrinkles and furrows on the face.

Because they liked theory number 4 the authors had another thought. Why not see if those who grow to look most like each other are the happiest couples? Presumably, then, those who get on better, empathise with each other to a greater degree and therefore go on to look more similar. Unfortunately, this test failed to reach statistical significance, so this study doesn't give us enough evidence to say whether or not it is true.

A glimpse of the future?


A straw poll of people I've talked to about this research reveals a polarised reaction. Some think that growing to look more like your partner is an horrific idea. Others, though, think there's something very sweet and romantic about it. I think I'm in the latter camp.

There is one worrying possibility this study suggests. It is said if you want to find out what your partner will look like when they're older, you should look at your partner's parents. Perhaps a glance at your partner's parents might also reveal what you will look like in a couple of decades. Truly scary stuff!



References

Zajonc, R.B., Adelmann, P.K., Murphy, S.T., & Niedenthal, P.M. (1987). Convergence in the physical appearance of spouses. Motivation and Emotion, 11(4), 335-346.

Comments

Life said…
hey go to knew to different aspect..thanks for info

Take Care
Vikas{V}
`NEFTY said…
Hey Soul!:]]
Impressionist said…
Nice post!
i see u have put up ur pic! :)
Cool! :) nice pic!

peace & love
Jeevy
Medhini said…
this post reminds me of a few 'empathizing' couples who resemble each other! And I have to completely agree that when you live with some one for 25 years, there is every possibility that you have similar facial expressions. Nice post!
Inacreditável!Bem, na minha idade já será difícil vir a viver com alguém durante tanto tempo, eu sou de relações curtas!!!Por isso não vou poder comprovar!!

Doutor House é a única série com um médico que eu consegui ver até hoje!Todas as outras eu nunca liguei!Os casos médicos são tão estranhos, aquilo quase parece a ficção científica da medicina.Mas a personagem dele é que faz o truque...
Imagina que hoje, feriado, tem chovido todo o dia...Oh, este ano nem uma semana de praia vou conseguir fazer!:-(
hey Soul!! I agree over time you do start to look alike. I've seen it before. Now how does this work when you have a multi-cultural relationship?
eehheheheh, é um bocadito fora de mão, mas prometo que um dia vou a Porto Santo e quando for tirarei um dia para ir à Madeira...:-)
KAYLEE said…
HEY GREAT POST I AM FEELING GREAT:)
jac said…
Very interesting piece !

Thank you soul&body for sharing it.
Anonymous said…
Hi,
I am fine dear..and agree with the point. I, myself had scene many couples who looks like same..
Angela said…
huummm... interesting!
Weird... but definitely
interesting :)
curryegg said…
It's this true? wow.. I never know this and thank for sharing.. Anyway.. nice post.. ;D

but will I like similar to someone if I practise these steps? Lol..
Anonymous said…
Oiiii Amiguinha!!!
Eu estou tão contente! Desculpa o atrazo a responder mas tenho estado em Sintra porque...Tenho um novo caozinho! TÀO LINDO!!!Tive a por a fotos no space agora tens de ver....
Bem o teu blogue esta mesmo muito bom!Lindooo!
Ate breve Beijoes da ISA
KAYLEE said…
I updated my blog :)
confessing7girl said…
k giro isto eu não sabia! mas parece k faz sentido né! olhas tanto tempo pa uma pexoa k ficas a t parecer cum ela!

olha lá explica-me lá como é exe blog k m convidates , sharing.... manda mail pa : confessing7girl@gmail.com
`NEFTY said…
I doubt this=/
Nice post. Interesting, I had never heard of this before. Of course, such research needs to be repeated and there needs to be follow up. I this research is correct, it's mind-baffling.
Alexiev said…
Cool...

Great images...

Best wishes from Buenos Aires...

http://www.alexiev.com.ar
Alexiev Store
KAYLEE said…
How r u?
Jeya Anand said…
Interesting!!

how r u??:)

Popular posts from this blog

10 Health Benefits of Whiskey

 Avoid Weight Gain —  Whiskey is a low-calorie alcohol, especially when compared to the many cocktails, beers, and wines you can find on supermarket shelves. You can drink a tumbler of whiskey without worrying about packing on the pounds thanks to its low sugar content. Boost Heart Health —  Did you know that drinking whiskey can actually make your heart healthier? Aside from wine and dark beer, what other alcohols can claim that? Not only will whiskey reduce the risk of blood clots, but it will lower your stroke and heart attack risk as well. The antioxidants in whiskey stop cholesterol from clogging your arteries, and it can even boost your good cholesterol. Fight Cancer – – Whiskey is rich in antioxidants, particularly one known as ellagic acid. This antioxidant stops your body’s DNA from coming in contact with cancer-causing compounds, reducing the risk of carcinogens forming. It can also protect your body from chemotherapy and will reduce oxidation in your body. Improve Brain

7/7/07

http://www.new7wonders.com/ This weekend we are gonna to celebrate the new Seven Wonders. The New 7 Wonders of the World will be announced during the Official Declaration ceremony in Lisbon, Portugal on Saturday, July 7, 2007 - 07.07.07. The event will take place at Portugal's largest venue, the Estadio da Luz in Lisbon. The international event will start at 21:30 (9:30 p.m.) local time, ending at 23 (11 p.m.). The international show, which will include award-presentation appearances by Hilary Swank, Ben Kingsley, Bipasha Basu, Cristiano Ronaldo, Neil Armstrong and Bertrand Piccard, and also will feature performances by Chaka Khan, Jennifer Lopez, Jose Carreras, Alessandro Safina, Joaquín Cortés, and Dulce Pontes, among others. What's you favorite?!