From appealing to appalling: Disenchantment with a romantic partner

This study examines the tendency for there to be similarities between the qualities that initially attract individuals to romantic partners and those they later dislike, that is, "fatal attractions." Approximately 44 percent of the individuals in this sample of 125 dating persons experience fatal attractions. Individual cases illustrate opposing themes, such as "nice to passive" and "strong to stubborn." One-third (33.7%) of the respondents themselves identify similarities between attracting and disliked partner characteristics. This disenchantment occurs in ongoing, as well as previous, relationships, suggesting that it is not simply sour grapes but is associated with the dissipation of infatuation. Dissimilar or extreme qualities in a partner are significantly more likely to become disliked.