They say opposites attract, but do they really?

In its most basic sense, an opposite is someone who is different. But not all differences are attractive.

For instance, you might be on the shy side. Yet you have always admired those who are bold and brash. Therefore, you might be attracted to someone like this.

But let's say you tend to be more conservative. Someone who is completely the opposite, with a more liberal view of things might not be as attractive to you. Sure, it can happen but in general there are some opposites we would never be drawn to. {relatedarticles}

When opposites do attract it tends to be more about a person's characteristics rather than their values or standards. This is especially true if you are looking down the road at a long-term relationship.

Opposites Who Complement One Another

One of the appealing forces behind opposite attractions is when it's complementary. Those who are big risk takers can be slowed down by someone who thinks through their decisions first.

Yet on the other hand, those who tend to be more careful about things might learn how fun spontaneity can be with the risk taker. This is an example of opposites who complement each other.