Birth Order: Complementarity vs Homogamy as Determinants of Attraction in Dating Relationships

Abstract

Toman's duplication and homogamy theorems derive conflicting hypotheses for the relationship between birth order and attraction in dating relationships. The present investigation directly compared these two hypotheses for a sample of 123 dating couples. Members of each couple completed measures of birth order, liking, loving, time-period dating, probability of marrying partner, and satisfaction with relationship; birth orders were classified into five types according to Toman's system. The results did not support either duplication or homogamy. Although evidence exists for the effects of duplication on marital longevity and for homogamy on marital choice, birth order does not appear related to the choice, longevity, or attraction between dating partners. Theoretical implications of these findings were discussed.