When looking for love, most people give more weight to a suitors negative qualities than to positive ones. And a new study shows, two strikes and you’re out.
In a new study from the University of Florida, researchers looked at the effect of relationship deal breakers on the formation of romantic relationships to see what value people placed on them, in comparison to deal makers.
They found that there is a general tendency to attend more closely to negative information than to positive characteristics.
The researchers determined the top deal breakers included:
- Unattractiveness
- Unhealthy lifestyle
- Undesirable personality traits
- Differing religious beliefs
- Limited social status
- Different relationship goals
The study also shows the effect of deal breakers is stronger for women and people in committed relationships.
Interestingly, the researchers found a deal breaker for one person may be a deal maker for another.
For example, if a person is impulsive, some will be attracted to that quality and think of it as a deal maker. But others who prefer people who are predictable may not look so kindly on that trait.
Although people typically think about potential mates in terms of their positive traits, that’s because people subconsciously weed out those with undesirable traits from their pool of eligible mates. And for many, one or two negative traits gets you off the list.