Research and Relationship Compatibility

Dandine-Roulland C, Laurent R, Dall'Ara I, Toupance B and Chaix R (2019)

Genomic evidence for MHC disassortative mating in humans

Proceedings of the Royal Society B

This study examined whether genetic differences were associated with partner choice across several populations. The findings varied by region, leaving social and cultural context as important factors.

Birnbaum GE, Zholtack K, Mizrahi M & Ein-Dor T (2019)

The Bitter Pill: Cessation of Oral Contraceptives Enhances the Appeal of Alternative Mates

Evolutionary Psychological Science 5, 276–285

Some studies have examined whether hormonal contraception is associated with changes in partner preference. Results remain mixed, and the research does not establish compatibility between two people.

Wedekind C (2019)

Research on scent pleasantness, intensity, and genetic differences

Proc. R. Soc. B 285:20172714

This reanalysis explored how scent pleasantness and intensity related to genetic differences in the study sample. It described a more nuanced pattern than a direct link between genes and attraction.

Henningsson S et al. (2017)

Research on genetic differences and partner choice

Translational Psychiatry 7:e1118

This review considered whether genetic variation was associated with partner choice across modern populations. It found no single pattern that can determine attraction or relationship outcomes.

Christakis NA, Fowler JH (2014)

Friendship and natural selection

PNAS 111(suppl 3): 10796–10801

Friends share genetic similarity comparable to that of fourth cousins. Suggests social bonds form along subtle biological gradients, not only shared environment - relevant to how romantic compatibility extends beyond MHC.

Garver-Apgar CE, Gangestad SW, Thornhill R, Miller RD, Olp JJ (2006)

Major histocompatibility complex alleles, sexual responsivity, and unfaithfulness in romantic couples

Psychological Science 17:830-835

One study reported associations between genetic similarity and survey responses about sexual interest and fidelity. An association in one sample does not predict how a relationship will develop.

Roberts SC, Gosling LM, Carter V, Petrie M (2008)

MHC-correlated odour preferences in humans and the use of oral contraceptives

Proc. R. Soc. B 275:2715-2722

This study explored whether oral contraceptive use was associated with scent preference. The reported effect remains debated and should not be treated as a measure of compatibility.

Wedekind C, Furi S (1997)

Research on scent preferences and genetic diversity

Proc. R. Soc. B 264:1471-1479

Participants rated scent samples from genetically typed donors. The findings suggested that overall genetic diversity may matter more than any specific pair of markers, but the study did not predict relationship success.

Wu K, Chen C, Moyzis RK, Nuno M, Yu Z and Greenberger E (2018)

More than skin deep: Major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-based attraction among Asian American speed-daters

Evolution and Human Behavior. 39(4):447-456.

In one speed-dating study, some genetic differences were associated with second-date decisions for women but not men. Personality and other profile information also mattered, so the findings do not provide a stand-alone matching rule.

Burger D, Meuwly C, Marti E, Sieme H, Oberthür M, Janda J, Meinecke-Tillmann S and Wedekind C (2017)

Research on scent and mate preferences in horses

Theriogenology. 89:318-323.

This animal study examined genetic differences, hormone levels, and mating interest in horses. The patterns changed with reproductive phase and cannot be assumed to describe human partner choice.

Sherlock JM, Sidari MJ, Harris EA, Barlow FK, Zietsch BP (2016)

Testing the mate-choice hypothesis of the female orgasm: disentangling traits and behaviours .

Socioaffect Neurosci Psychol. 6:31562.

This study explored whether partner traits were associated with reported orgasm frequency. It found associations with several social and sensory traits but did not establish a single cause.

Kromer J, Hummel T, Pietrowski D, Giani AS, Sauter J, Ehninger G, Schmidt AH, Croy I (2016)

Research on genetic differences, partnership, and sexual satisfaction

Sci Rep. 6:32550.

The study examined whether immune-gene differences were associated with partner choice and sexual satisfaction. It reported possible scent-related associations, not a deterministic relationship.

Wlodarski R. and Dunbar RIM. (2015)

Research on romantic kissing and mate desirability

Evol Psychol. ; 12(1): 178–199.

This study examined how reported kissing ability affected ratings of potential partners. Visual information and relationship context also influenced responses, which points to several factors rather than one measure of desirability.

Burger D, Dolivo G, Marti E, Sieme H and Wedekind C (2015)

Research on genetic type and reproductive signals in horses

Proc. R. Soc. B 282:20150407

This animal study examined whether genetic differences were associated with hormone levels and sperm count in stallions. Its findings concern horses and do not establish a human matchmaking outcome.

Laurent R and Chaix R (2012)

MHC-dependent mate choice in humans: Why genomic patterns from the HapMap European American dataset support the hypothesis

BioEssays. 34(4):267-71.

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Lie HC, Simmons LH and Rhodes G (2010)

Research on genetic diversity and mate preferences in humans

Evolution and Human Behavior 31:8–58.

This study explores the influence of genetic factors, particularly the major histocompatibility complex (MHC), on mate preferences in humans, discovering that males tend to prefer MHC-dissimilar females in both short-term and long-term mating contexts, while genetic diversity impacts both male and female partner preferences across different mating contexts, thus supporting a significant role for the MHC in human mate selection and suggesting that these preferences might function to enhance genetic diversity in offspring.

Lie HC, Rhodes G and Simmons LH (2010)

Research on genetic diversity and mating success

Animal Behaviour. 79, 4:903-909

One study reported an association between genetic diversity and the number of sexual partners among women in its sample, with no comparable finding among men. It did not establish a causal effect or predict compatibility.

Chaix R, Cao C, and Donnelly P (2008)

Is human mate choice linked to genetic differences?

PLOS Genetics, 4 (9)

The study found different patterns across the populations it examined. That variation suggests genetic associations are context-dependent and cannot determine partner choice.

Schwensow N, Fietz J, Dausmann K, Sommer S (2008)

Research on genetic diversity and mate choice in a pair-living primate

Evol Ecol. (22) 617-636

This primate study examined genetic diversity, social pairing, and parentage. It found several competing patterns, which cannot be carried over directly to human relationships.

Wedekind C (2007)

Research on genetic differences and descriptions of body odour

Evolutionary Psychology.5(2): 330-343

Professional perfumers described body-odour samples from genetically typed participants. The study reported some associations, but it did not establish that scent can determine partner choice.

Wedekind C (2006)

Is body-odour intensity linked to genetic differences?

Evolutionary Psychology. 4:85-94

This study examined whether genetic similarity was associated with how women rated the intensity and pleasantness of men's body odour. The results were limited to the study sample and do not predict attraction.

Pause BM, Krauel K, Schrader C, Sojka B, Westphal E, Mu¨ller-Ruchholtz W, and Ferstl R. (2006)

The human brain is a detector of chemosensorily transmitted HLA-class I-similarity in same- and opposite-sex relations

Proc. R. Soc. B (2006) 273, 471–478 doi:10.1098/rspb.2005.3342

This study explored whether people respond differently to body odours associated with genetic similarity. It proposed a possible role in social signalling but did not establish a matchmaking effect.

Martins Y, Preti G, Crabtree CR, Runyan T, Vainius AA and Wysocki CJ (2005)

Research on body-odour preferences, gender, and sexual orientation

Psychological Science, 16(9) 694-702

Participants rated body-odour samples across gender and sexual-orientation groups. The observed preferences varied by group and do not amount to a compatibility measure.

Horton R, Wilming L, Rand V, Lovering RC, Bruford EA, Khodiyar VK, Lush MJ, Povey S, Talbot CC Jr, Wright MW, Wain HM, Trowsdale J, Ziegler A, Beck S (2004)

Gene map of the extended human MHC.

Nat Rev Genet 5(12):889-899

This study mapped a complex region of the human genome involved in immune function. It provides biological background but does not establish a matchmaking outcome.

Jacob S, McClitock MK, Zelano B and Ober C (2002)

Research on inherited genetic differences and scent preference

Nature Genetics, 30:175

This study demonstrates that women can discern differences in male body odor influenced by a single variance in HLA (human MHC) allele, with a woman's capacity to distinguish and prefer certain odors notably being based on HLA alleles inherited from her father and not her mother; this suggests that paternally inherited HLA-associated odors influence odor preference and might function as social cues, even despite a milieu of potential odors derived from a variety of genetic and cultural factors..

Milinski M and Wedekind C (2001)

Research on genetic differences and perfume preference

Behavioural Ecology 12(2):140-149

The study found associations between genetic types and perfume ratings for personal use, while ratings for a partner's scent were largely unrelated. It does not support using perfume preference as a compatibility measure.

Wedekind C, Seebeck T, Bettens F And Paepke AJ (1995)

MHC-dependent mate preferences in humans.

Proc.R.Soc.Lond.B. 260:245-249.

One study reported that body-odour preferences were associated with genetic differences and contraceptive use. The finding was context-specific and does not determine attraction.

Jokiniemi A, Magris M, Ritari J, Kuusipalo L, Lundgren T, Partanen J and Kekäläinen J (2020)

Post-copulatory genetic matchmaking: HLA-dependent effects of cervical mucus on human sperm function

Proc. R. Soc. B 287:20201682

* found that sperm viability was associated with partners' HLA dissimilarity, indicating that cervical mucus may selectively facilitate later gamete fusion between immunogenetically compatible partners

Mosaad YM, Abdel-Dayem Y, El-Deek BS and El-Sherbini SM (2011)

Association between HLA-E *0101 homozygosity and recurrent miscarriage in Egyptian women

Scand J Immunol. 2011 Aug;74(2):205-9. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-3083.2011.02559.x.

Mosaad et al. found an increased frequency of homozygosity for HLA-E*0101 in Egyptian women with recurrent miscarriage.

Mora-Sánchez A, Aguilar-Salvador D, Nowak I (2019)

Towards a gamete matching platform: using immunogenetics and artificial intelligence to predict recurrent miscarriage

NPJ Digit Med Mar 7;2:12.

* proposed a genetic-risk calculation that could predict recurrent miscarriage (RM) based on analysing HLA haplotypes from couples either with histories of successful pregnancies or RM

Meuleman T, Lashley LE, Dekkers OM, van Lith J, Claas FH and Bloemenkamp KW (2015)

HLA associations and HLA sharing in recurrent miscarriage: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Hum Immunol. May;76(5):362-73.

* performed a meta-analyses of 41 studies and showed that HLA-B sharing and HLA-DR sharing were both associated with the occurrence of RM

Shankarkumar U, Pawar A, Gaonkar P, Parasannavar D, Salvi V, and Ghosh K (2008)

HLA allele associations in idiopathic recurrent spontaneous abortion patients from India

J Hum Reprod Sci. 2008 Jan;1(1):19-24.

* identified differential association of alleles in HLA-A, HLA-B, HLA-C, and HLA-DRB1 when compared with reported world RSA patients

Ober C (1999)

Studies of HLA, fertility and mate choice in a human isolate

Hum Reprod Update 5(2):103-107.

* describe the relationship between HLA similarity at individual alleles, as well as HLA haplotypes as indicators for increased risk of fetal loss among Hutterite couples

Ober C, Hyslop T, Elias S, Weitkamp LR, Hauck WW (1998)

Human leukocyte antigen matching and fetal loss: results of a 10 year prospective study

Human Reproduction, Volume 13, Issue 1, Jan 1998, Pages 33-38

* results of a 10 year study that demonstrated increased fetal loss rates among Hutterite couples matching for HLA antigens

Ober., Steck., Ven., Billstrand., Messer., Kwak., Beaman., Beer (1993)

MHC class II compatibility in aborted foetuses and term infants of couples with recurrent spontaneous abortion

Journal of Reproductive Immunology, Volume 25, Issue 3, December 1993, Pages 195-207

* demonstrated increased rates of recurrent spontaneous abortion among Hutterite couples matching for HLA-DQA1 alleles

Lok C (2012)

How personality frameworks are used in career development

Nature, 488: 545-547

The article describes how self-assessed personality frameworks may help people reflect on communication, leadership, and teamwork. It does not establish relationship compatibility.

Keirsey, D (2006)

A book about temperament and personality types

Promethius Nemesis Book Co., Del Mar, CA.

This book uses a self-assessed questionnaire to group people into personality and temperament types. It offers a vocabulary for reflection, not proof that two people are compatible.

Moutafi J, Furnham A, and Crump J (2003)

Research on demographic, personality, and intelligence measures

European Journal of Personality, 17:79-94

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Myers IB, McCaulley MH, Quenk NL and Hammer AL (1998)

MBTI manual: A guide to the development and use of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator .

Consulting Psychologists Press, Palo Alto, CA, Vol. 3.

The MBTI® Manual, third edition, serves as a comprehensive guide, detailing the development, application, and interpretation of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator® instrument, providing in-depth information about the theory, reliability, and validity of the tool, and offering insights into the 16 personality types it identifies, all authored by leading experts in psychological type, Isabel Briggs Myers, Mary H. McCaulley, Naomi L. Quenk, and Allen L. Hammer.

Myers IB, McCaulley MH and Most R (1985)

Manual, a guide to the development and use of the Myers-Briggs type indicator.

Consulting Psychologists Press.

The 1985 edition, 'Manual: A Guide to the Development and Use of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator,' introduces and elucidates the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI®), designed to render C. G. Jung's psychological type theory comprehensible and applicable in daily life, underlining the principle that behavioral variations, while seemingly sporadic, are consistently orderly, deriving from intrinsic differences in individuals’ preferred use of perception and judgment.

Myers IB (1962)

Manual, a guide to the development and use of the Myers-Briggs type indicator.

Consulting Psychologists Press .

The 1962 manual for the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator provides comprehensive insights and guidelines for implementing C. Jung’s theory of psychological types, asserting that behavioral variations are systematic and consistent due to basic perceptual and judgmental preferences, aiming to apply these preferences through self-reports to ascertain individual psychological types, thereby enabling the practical application and research into their effects on reactions, motivations, values, and capabilities.

Jung CG (1923)

Psychological types: or the psychology of individuation

Oxford, England: Harcourt, Brace .

This book presents a theory that groups personality differences by preferences in perception and judgment. It is historical context, not proof of compatibility.