The community based on the iPersonic personality test.

Similar Colors - Stronger Chemistry?

I think it's great to have somebody thinking alike, understanding your mind-movements. But then again, what about the complementary view? In order to get the right or sufficiently detailed grasp on a thing, you might rely on people that think in a completely different way.

What do you think?

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Patrice on May 9, 2008 at 4:01pm: Well, if you ask a person, that is the opposite of your type, you might be able to have a look in many alternative decisions or opinions. But is it better than relying only on your way of thinking? I mean, of course, the other person could be right and decide better, but this would be not "your way" of acting. I think everyone should find his own opinions and decisions, but it's good to view all the possibilities.

PS: If I think of the opposite type (in my case: laid-back doer) I note, that this maybe would be a person who could annoy me very much. ;-) (I mean: "could", so there are Exceptions, for sure.); ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Marcel Heyne on May 9, 2008 at 4:12pm: Good point. But you are focusing to much on the thinking part ... ;-)

Similar colors stand for a stronger chemistry in the relationship part. Psychology has spent the last 20, 30 years investigating how long term relationships work. The result is that the similarity of partners is playing a vital role in healthy long term relationships. Similarity in this sense means similar personalities (reflected in our colors) but also similar interests, political attitudes etc. Sure, nobody wants identical partners or symbiotic relationships. But similarities generally facilitate day to day communication. And the latter is an essential part of long-term relationships ... ;-)

(By the way: "opposites attract" is also true. Differences in a partner do really attract us. But only in the short term. Day to day communications are a sure killer in this case ... ;-)

Now back to the thinking part. I agree with you. You should rely on people that think in a completely different way to get a sufficiently detailed grasp on a thing. But this doesn't necessarily mean that you need to have different personalities to do that. Different personality types stand more for an "intellectual approach" towards the solving of problems. Two Analytical Thinkers for example might use the same method to approach an intellectual problem, but they might end up with different results.

So it really depends on what type of problem you want to solve. If you're thinking of an intellectual problem, I would mix and match different Thinker types. You extroverted thinkers for example can help us introverted thinkers to confront us with the outside world view of things ... ;-)

If for example you're an IT entrepreneur, you would mix and match Doers and Thinkers and some Realists. Social entrepreneur? Engaged Idealists. Etc. etc.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Wolfgang on May 9, 2008 at 9:54pm: Very interesting explanation!

I tend to think that "opposites attract" is more...powerful and natural in some way.

Its Yin and Yang, black and white, day and night.

It belongs together!

> But you are focusing to much on the thinking part ... ;-)

Maybe you are focusing to much in "thinking the similar parts together" ;-)

For me i am a DI, i'm a little shy and kind of reserved, but i often fall in love for snappy girls :-)
There are no butterflies in my stomach with a girl who is similar to me.

>>>
If for example you're an IT entrepreneur, you would mix and match Doers and Thinkers and some Realists. Social entrepreneur? Engaged Idealists.
br />
And whats up with the poor dreamy idealists? ;-) What is the best kind of work for us?; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Marcel Heyne on May 14, 2008 at 2:22pm: Jobs for Dreamy Idealists? Here we go:

• teachers (v. a. higher classes and Univer -
sity, Humanities and Art)
• social workers
• social education
• social scientists
• education adviser
• Career / Work / training consultant
• Psychiatrists
• psychologist, psychotherapist
• priests, spiritual adviser, spiritual
Consultants, missionary
• physiotherapist, masseur
• Architect
• science and research, academic
sches environment
• writer
• actor
• artists
• musicians
• composer / arranger
• Graphic designer
• Editor
• journalist
• interior designer
• Desktop Publisher
• translators
• genealogist
• geneticist
• ethicist
• Curator
• Human Resources Management
• ABO psychologist
• Customer relations specialist
• Project Manager; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Yova on May 9, 2008 at 5:03pm: the air we breathe is chemistry, but also the poison ;); ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by mia on May 10, 2008 at 5:05am: haha, it's a good point

but when u stil can deal with poison, u should do it before u r too old to breath; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Vee on May 9, 2008 at 10:51pm: getting a different perspective is always good..; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Kat a nova on May 9, 2008 at 11:29pm: I think when we are young, opposites attract, but if we remember the Tao concept of 'everything contains the seed of it's opposite' (the unconscious etc.) then we consciously are drawn to an opposite whom within may also really carry something that we are unaware of about ourselves. And we do this unconsciously to bring it out.
And that would be, therefore, an impulse toward the similar, albeit, an unconscious one.

I also think that when the attraction to our "opposite" turns to revulsion (like when you break up) it is then common to seek a mate that we think is a more obvious "similar"; for compatibility's sake, and then have the lesson of picking a person with even more of a conscious rationale -thwarting in my view, the impulse we had more naturally when we were young.

Good subject, thansky-; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by kova on May 11, 2008 at 12:45am: To me alot of people are looking for companionship or someone that compliments them. It may mean someone on the opposite side or the same side. Maybe it's not that you are attracted to an opposite in ones early life and more similar in later, but how they compliment each other. For example one that is a bit of a slob may need someone to push them or doesn't mind pick up after them. Other opposites just plan hate the mess. Those will similar may compliment each other as well. They may make tasks they both hate more enjoyable because they are understand the discomfort the other feels.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Jenni on May 11, 2008 at 8:01pm: Well they say opposites attract - but if you're too opposite you're going to have no common ground to start from and if you're too similar you will both share the same flaws e.g. both having leader ship qualities which could clash - i think people about half a spectrum away from each other will be good matches

but thats just my opinion lol; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by mahesvara on May 16, 2008 at 1:40pm: there is english saying: Birds of the same feather flock together. To me it is much healthier and harmonius to be in reationship with a partner of similar psychological setup. Then there much more common ground and not too much to explain.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by mahesvara on May 16, 2008 at 1:46pm: not so long time ago in india almost nobody would get into marriage without checking the compatibilty with an astrological chart. If the differences were to big, then it would not be recommend. Similarity of nature
gives more stabilty on the long run, at least this is what most marriage counsellers and astrologers are saying and it makes a lot of sense to me.; ▶ Reply to This