A pseudo-science of selecting a partner
As children, most of us grew up with stories of faraway kingdoms, fire-breathing dragons, the princess in the dungeon and the prince charming at her rescue — a happy ending!
We all have fostered the idea that love is pre-destined and that in the grand scheme of things, there is a special someone waiting just to be with us.
Invariably so, we are in search of that special someone and at times, have gone through extreme levels of frustration trying to figure out the logistics of how to find the right partner.
While most people believe that love and attraction are simply matters of the heart, in reality, it is much more complicated than that.
Think about it -- how do we feel attraction towards some people and take an instant dislike towards others? Science says that it does not happen unconsciously. Rather, we actively seek people with similar personalities, passions and values. Uncommon factors like a symmetrical physical appearance, the distinct pheromones secreted by the particular smell of a person, and chiefly their personality governs our liking towards another human being.
Even though the biology of attraction is still very complex, it is heavily tied to our genetics and the way our senses perceive another person.
Again, there are some people who believe that the connection between two people is written in the stars and depending on the four governing signs -- Earth, Water, Air and Fire – and that compatibly between the 12 zodiac signs work.
But does it really? An Aries coupled with a Taurus is supposedly a recipe for disaster, but in reality, thousands of Aries-Taurus couples have been head over heels for one another and have spent their entire lives together.
Perhaps, at the end of the day, what matters most when seeking a partner is to look for someone who understands, respects and wants the same things you want.
By Mormee Mahtab