What Do People REALLY Want In Romantic Partners?

Scientific Research on When People's Claims Are Wrong

Each of us carries a jagged profile, a blend of traits, interests, and experiences that make us distinct. Based on a genetic predisposition and lifetime of experiences, we are a bizarre combination of strengths and vulnerabilities, desires and fears.

An illustration of the jagged personality profiles of Canadians with European versus Chinese ancestry.

There is something really interesting about these Big Five personality profiles (from here). On average, nobody comes even close to the maximum on wonderful qualities such as Assertiveness, Positive Emotions, Openness to Feelings, Tender-Mindedness, or Self-Discipline.

No one excels in every area.

Just the same, no romantic partner can fulfill every wish or meet every standard. This becomes clear from the wild psychological research on men and women in the dating world…