How Relationships Can Change Your Personality
Love can alter everything about us.
This newsletter delves into stories that illustrate how relationships can shape our personalities. In the realm of romantic partnerships, researchers are still unraveling the reasons behind couples becoming more alike over time, a phenomenon dubbed the "Michelangelo phenomenon." Couples may simply perceive themselves as becoming more similar, despite the actual process of change.
The article explores how personality traits can influence how comfortable we feel in someone's presence. Individuals with a favorable "affective presence" tend to make social interactions smoother and more enjoyable. Moreover, the article highlights how our moods can steer the kind of companionship we seek. A good mood might make us gravitate towards a particular type of partner.
The idea of changing one's personality is further examined through personal accounts. One person attempted to alter their personality over a period of three months and found the results mixed. Additionally, various personality tests are discussed, such as the Myers-Briggs and Enneagram tests, and even a quiz offered by The Atlantic to help individuals identify their own personality type.
Finally, the newsletter concludes with a light-hearted note on the pervasive language used in Silicon Valley and a photo submission showcasing a monarch butterfly that visits a reader's balcony garden, evoking a sense of awe and appreciation for nature's beauty.
Written by urgent.news from The Atlantic's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
