Individual differences and romantic compatibility : the relationship between personality traits, eligibility and ideal partner preference

• Main Author: Anderson, Beth Emma
• Published: University College London (University of London) 2018
• Online Access: https://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.747271

This thesis explores the relationship between personality traits and ideal partner preference. It presents a review of the topic’s salient literature, specifically, research on: theories of romantic attraction; individual differences in ideal partner preference; online and offline platforms for partner selection; personality factors, relationship initiation, maintenance and satisfaction; and tools to assess compatibility. Eight empirical studies of the relationship between the Big Five personality traits, two Dark Triad traits (psychopathy and Machiavellianism), eligibility and expressed preference for an ideal partner are presented. The thesis incorporates development, piloting and validation of a novel, forced-choice instrument for measuring the trade-offs that occur in partner selection. Studies 1 and 2 test a pilot version of the Ideal Partner Questionnaire (IPQ) instrument, to identify the latent constructs that underpin decisions about ideal partner preference and test their relationship with self- and objectively-rated eligibility and personality traits. Study 3 builds on this by testing the IPQ domains with a larger sample, to refine the tool further and explore Big Five personality and gender differences in expressed preference. Study 4 tests the relationship between ideal partner preference, as measured by the IPQ, eligibility and the dark traits Machiavellianism and subclinical psychopathy. Study 5 tests the relationship between ideal partner preference, as measured by the IPQ, eligibility and emotional intelligence. Studies 6 and 7 test whether romantic beliefs and qualitatively expressed preferences predict ideal partner preference, as measured by the IPQ. Study 8 uses data gathered from couples to determine the extent to which ideal preference correlates to personality and relationship satisfaction in established relationships, rather than in the abstract. Lastly, the potential utility of the IPQ, implications for future research and limitations are discussed.