The theory that opposites attract is a myth, scientists have found, after discovering that people are only attracted to those who hold the same views and values as themselves.
科學家發(fā)現人們只會被擁有相同想法、價值觀的人所吸引，所謂異性相吸理論純屬子虛烏有。

In a finding hailed as a ‘paradigm shift’ for the understanding of relationships, researchers found that like-minded people will be drawn together but keep their distance from those who do not adhere to their beliefs.
研究人員發(fā)現志同道合者往往會聚在一起，同時他們會遠離跟自己信念相左的人。這一發(fā)現被認為顛覆了人們長久以來對人際關系的理解。

It suggests that strangers hoping to hit it off would do better to play to their similarities rather than trying to impress the other person with attributes which make them unique.
這表明想要跟陌生人交好，與其想方設法彰顯自己的獨特之處，不如強調你們的共同之處。

To find out how important similarity was to forming relationships researchers from Wellesly and the University of Kansas approached more than 1,500 random pairs, including romantic couples, friends and acquaintances, and asked them to complete a survey about their values, prejudices, attitudes and personality traits.
為找出志同道合在構建人際關系時的重要性，來自威雷斯利大學和美國堪薩斯大學的研究人員隨機調查了1500多對情侶、朋友和熟人，要求他們完成一項關于價值觀、偏見、態(tài)度和個性特點的調查。

The information was then compared to see how similar or different each pair was and to see whether people in longer relationships had more in common.
之后研究人員對所得信息進行對比，以調查每一對的相似或相異程度，并看看關系維持得更長久的人是否擁有更多的相似之處。

It emerged that all pairings held similar life views even if they had only just met.
結果顯示每一對都擁有相似的人生觀，盡管有些才剛剛認識。

In a second experiment, the researchers surveyed pairs who had just met in a college classroom setting, and then surveyed the same pairs later. There was virtually no change in beliefs over time suggesting that if couples go into a relationship hoping to change the opinions of the other it is unlikely to work.
在第二項實驗中，研究人員調查了大學教室里初識的人，一段時間之后又對他們進行調查。結果顯示隨著時間流逝他們的觀念幾乎沒變，這就表明如果一個人抱著改變別人想法的態(tài)度去交朋友是不太可能成功的。

Prof Bahns from Wellesly College said: "Though the idea that partners influence each other is central in relationships research, we have identified a large domain in which friends show very little change-- personality, attitudes and values, and a selection of socially-relevant behaviors."
威雷斯利大學的巴恩斯教授說：“盡管兩人相互影響是人際關系研究的主流觀點，但我們已經發(fā)現了很多朋友不能改變的地方，比如性格、態(tài)度和價值觀以及種種社交相關行為。”

"To be clear, we do not mean to suggest that social influence doesn't happen in relationships; however, there's little room for influence to occur when partners are similar at the outset of relationships.
“要清楚，我們并非是說社交對人際關系沒有影響，而是說，如果兩人一開始就志趣相投的話，那么社交對人的改變極其有限。”

"Anything that disrupts the harmony of the relationship--such as areas of disagreement, especially on attitudes, values, or preferences that are important--is likely to persist.
“任何擾亂人際關系和諧的東西，比如兩人間的分歧，尤其是態(tài)度、價值觀或重要的偏好上的分歧，很有可能都不會隨時間消弭。”

“Change is difficult and unlikely; it's easier to select people who are compatible with your needs and goals from the beginning."
“改變很難也不太可能，最好從一開始就選擇跟你的需要和目標一致的人。”

However the researchers warn that the quest for similarity in friends could result in a lack of exposure to other ideas, values and perspectives.
但是研究人員也提醒道，只尋找跟自己志趣相投的朋友，可能會導致你無法接觸到其他的觀點、價值觀和視角。

Vocabulary

paradigm shift: 典范轉移；思考模式的轉移
hit it off: 合得來

英文來源：每日電訊報
譯者：程玉晴
審校&編輯：丹妮