By: Brian Burton

Abstract: While the proverbial “birds of a feather fl ock together” and

“opposites attract” are both well-known sayings in our culture, the

former has been shown to be much more the rule than the exception. The

existing literature shows that there is a connection between attraction

and similarity, though the nature of this relationship is up for debate. The

attraction-similarity hypothesis, while a sound theory when studying

friendships, does not address the vast amount of variables that affect

attraction, similarity, and satisfaction in a romantic relationship. It is

argued that this is due to the fact that such relationships are inherently

more complicated than friendships in terms of attitudes, beliefs, and

commitment styles. This study works to identify which factors in a romantic

relationship affect perceived similarity and satisfaction, focusing

specifi cally on the individual’s level of commitment to the relationship.