Comments on: Empathy Causes Facial Similarity Between Couples to Increase Over Time

By: psilas

psilas — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 14:35:54 +0000

Hi Professor,
I have read my email and responded to the literature on comments on the psychological effects on the many topics and I found them very interesting. The one with the married couples looking alike after 25 years of marriage, is some what true but the findings of what's the cause do not seem likely. However, I have seen couples look alike and I used to say they now look like brothers and sisters. Now with this article It raises my eye brows. What Is the real cause of it. I am amazed at the different interesting comments but I still think that there is more to it than can be explained.
Thanks for sending me this link.

By: mark

mark — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 15:28:52 +0000

does any know were i can get an orginal peer-review for this artical. its for a reseach project at varsity and i have searched every where and no luck

By: Coinneach Shanks

Coinneach Shanks — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 15:34:00 +0000

Thank you Jeremy. I like this article and it caused me to wonder whether there are also generation similarities. Certainly it is possible to discern patterns over time. I guess I am looking at faces over a long time span, so another factor is "Who's doing the looking?". Best wishes. Coinneach

By: ladu

ladu — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 19:01:00 +0000

This is a very interesting topic,however i'd like to expand on the subject and perhaps add another finding. I am a Social worker who has worked in many different of environments where i've practiced my trade and have noticed some things maybe someone can agree and possibly elaborate on. I have worked with various populations involved including prison and social service capacities. From working with so many different I've come to notice that people in general who look alike act alike even if they are unknown to each other in any capacity, I have done a sort of independent research and I wonder am i bugging out or is there really any validity to my theory, thanks-Lawrence M.

By: Matthew

Matthew — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 01:38:00 +0000

diet can totally be thought of differently, other then just chubbiness. Sugar affects the body through different ways, other then just fattening, it will also open up pores and affect how much energy you have.

the environment is going to affect how your feeling as well, you'll be tired at the same time, you'll likely feel relief at the same time when work is over, you'll go to the same places and laugh over the same things. Sunshine and rain will effect moods which creates similar expressions---similar expressions make people have similar features---empathy.

if two people are brooding and there used to brooding a certain way because it's all the see, most likely they are going to look similar. If two people are taking pictures and they are used to taking pictures together, mimicking each others expressions and having fun, they are most likely going to copy that persons expression when they are taking more photos, even when they are not together, because they are going to thinking of those time's indirectly, probably even directly as well.

By: dünya

dünya — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 21:30:00 +0000

these findings are really interesting!!there is another thing that is very-well known. women who spend a lot of time together (at work, school,etc...) start to have their periods around the same time of the month and it goes on like that :) so these two support the idea that physical changes towards similarity are possible when human beings spend a loooong time together...wooww!! I mean if these two do really support each other and if there is this kind of an evolutionary change in the human body by just spending years together then wooowww really!!! I like it...

By: The Visitor

The Visitor — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 07:03:00 +0000

Interesting article! I had heard this theory, but this is the first write-up on it that I've read.

I've posted this verbatim on a discussion thread - it doesnt allow links, so I couldn't link your post. However I've said its been sourced from PsyBlog (assuming interested people would google to reach your page), though your name has not been mentioned. Sorry for the omission. If you have any objections, I'll write to the moderator to remove the post.

By: Marisa Duma

Marisa Duma — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 22:57:00 +0000

I find this quite romantic!

By: noodles

noodles — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 17:11:00 +0000

Just a thought I had - I was jealous of my partner's ex girlfriend for a while because I thought she was more attractive than me. And they looked so much like each other - they had practically the same face!
Since then, this theory has even caused me worry, as I have often panicked and thought - "He's left his face twin for me, we are not as compatible!"
It sounds silly but then I had a period of what can only be described as obessive observation where I would suddenly start noticing all these couples who looked eerily alike..!
Then I got to thinking, my parents are different nationalities and I have a slightly unusual face, so it would be even harder to find my male face twin! Happy ever after..???

By: Linette

Linette — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 14:11:00 +0000

What a interesting site :-)

Have read carefully through the post and all relevant comments, and yes, I do agree, many married couples or long term partners resemble eachother.

My Grandfather told me something interesting as a child, and I remember it still, he said"the only one gets, the larger your nose and ears gets"(lol), but in his case it was the truth, as I have seen pics of him as a young man, and his face definetelly looked different.

I agree with some of the comments, people do tend to be attracted to "familiar features", such as theire own or maybe a family mebers like a mothers facial features.

To date I have never been involved with somoene who even slightly resembles me or a family..makes one think hey..lol, maybe if I found my "twin"things would last..and we could grow old together in geriatric bliss..lol