Mirror image: old-age physical likeness
The big ‘diamond’ anniversary is nearing. So, when you look in the mirror and reflect on the years passed do you see two sad people who have gone separate ways or perhaps a happy couple with similar – almost identical –interests… and appearances?
The big ‘diamond’ anniversary is nearing. So, when you look in the mirror and reflect on the years passed do you see two sad people who have gone separate ways or perhaps a happy couple with similar – almost identical –interests… and appearances?
As bizarre as it may sound, American researchers say choosing a partner with traits similar to one’s own is advantageous as it ensures genes are more likely to be transmitted to future generations.
Philippe Rushton at the University of Western Ontario says ‘physical likeness’ is used to assess underlying ‘genetic likeness’ which can cause a person to be “subconsciously attracted to reflections of [themselves]”.
“Your own segment of the gene pool is safely maintained and transmitted to future generations,” Mr Rushton says, adding seniors have always looked similar and it just becomes more obvious as they grow older.
According to researchers across the globe, physical likeness between couples increases over time, with couples’ wrinkles forming in the same places because of a lifetime of shared emotions.
The Times of India reports the phenomenon as being “assortative mating” or “self-seeking like”, which is when people mate with those who are genetically similar.
The researchers show the more “heritable” the physical characteristics, the higher the chance of mating between individuals with those particular traits. For instance, height and wrist circumference are reportedly more inheritable than a person’s waist size.
Popular Science quoted Mr Ruston as saying: “If you look at spouses across these characteristics, they are the most similar on the more genetic components.
“As you grow old, lots of distinguishing features group away, like flesh on the skin or hair on the head.”
Do you look similar to your spouse? Share your thoughts on this study by commenting in the box below.
