Homogamy in Personal Values and the "Field of Eligibles"

Abstract

in personal values is indicated by a study of one hundred couples, including samples of both pre-married and married couples. To test the theory suggested by Winch that this homogamy is due to natural limitations of one's field of eligibles, these natural couples are compared to artificial couples which are matched on the basis of similar social characteristics. It is found that such controls account for a significant amount of homogamy, but a substantial degree of homogamy remains unexplained in this manner. H OMOGAMY in social and cultural characteristics is one of the few clear and consistent empirical generalizations to come out of studies of mate-selection. There can be no doubt that persons tend to marry other persons of similar age, residence, race, religion, socio-economic status, and education.' Similarity in personality characteristics, however, is a question which is less settled. Considerable evidence has been presented by psychologists and sociologists in favor of homogamy in attitudes, interests, temperament, neurotic tendency, and a number of other characteristics.2 On the other hand, certain psychoanalysts have emphasized the importance of complementary motivation;3 and recently Winch and his associates have presented empirical evidence for viewing mate-selection in terms of the influence of complementary, rather than similar, patterns of needs.4 * Revision of a paper read at the Midwest Sociological Society, April 1959. The research reported is part of a larger study of patterns in mate-selection by the author (Personality Patterns in Mate-Selection: A Study of Complementary Needs and Homogamy, Ph.D. dissertation, University of Kansas, 1959). The writer is indebted to Dr. Lawrence S. Bee for his advice in planning and conducting the study. 1 Ernest W. Burgess, Homogamy in Social Characteristics, American Journal of Sociology, XL (1943), 109-24; August B. Hollingshead, Cultural Factors in the Selection of Marriage Mates, American Sociological Review, XV (1950), 619-27. For further references see Robert F. Winch, Mate-Selection: A Study of Complementary Needs (New York: Harper, 1958), pp. 5-7. 2 Helen M. Richardson, Studies of Mental Resemblance Between Husbands and Wives and Between Friends, Psychological Bulletin, XXVI (1939), 104-20; Ernest W. Burgess and Paul Wallin, Homogamy in Personality Characteristics, Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, XXXIX (1944), 475-81. 3 For references see Winch, op. cit., pp. 7-8. 4 Winch, op. cit. Other publications by Winch and associates include; Robert F. Winch, The Modern Family (New York: Holt, 1952), especially pp. 291-433; This content downloaded from 157.55.39.238 on Sat, 02 Jul 2016 05:25:52 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms