The authors reviewed previous research on homogamy, which revealed that married couples tend to resemble rather than differ in physical and psychological characteristics. Using data from a thousand engaged couples in the Chicago metropolitan area, the authors showed empirical evidence of homogamy for social qualities. The difference between the actual and expected percentage of likeness between couple members was statistically significant in all but six of the fifty-one social parameters analyzed. The tendency for homogamy, on the other hand, varied by social characteristics, as evidenced by the mean value of C for the following groups of items: religious affiliation and behavior,.54; family backgrounds,.38; courtship behavior,.33; marriage conceptions,.31; social participation,.24; and family relationships,.12.
The Diversity of Love
