The theory that opposites attract is a myth, scientists have found, after discovering that people are only attracted to those who hold the same views and values as themselves.
科学家发现人们只会被拥有相同想法、价值观的人所吸引，所谓异性相吸理论纯属子虚乌有。
In a finding hailed as a 'paradigm shift' for the understanding of relationships, researchers found that like-minded people will be drawn together but keep their distance from those who do not adhere to their beliefs.
研究人员发现志同道合者往往会聚在一起，同时他们会远离跟自己信念相左的人。这一发现被认为颠覆了人们长久以来对人际关系的理解。
It suggests that strangers hoping to hit it off would do better to play to their similarities rather than trying to impress the other person with attributes which make them unique.
这表明想要跟陌生人交好，与其想方设法彰显自己的独特之处，不如强调你们的共同之处。
To find out how important similarity was to forming relationships researchers from Wellesly and the University of Kansas approached more than 1,500 random pairs, including romantic couples, friends and acquaintances, and asked them to complete a survey about their values, prejudices, attitudes and personality traits.
为找出志同道合在构建人际关系时的重要性，来自威雷斯利大学和美国堪萨斯大学的研究人员随机调查了1500多对情侣、朋友和熟人，要求他们完成一项关于价值观、偏见、态度和个性特点的调查。

The information was then compared to see how similar or different each pair was and to see whether people in longer relationships had more in common.
之后研究人员对所得信息进行对比，以调查每一对的相似或相异程度，并看看关系维持得更长久的人是否拥有更多的相似之处。
It emerged that all pairings held similar life views even if they had only just met.
结果显示每一对都拥有相似的人生观，尽管有些才刚刚认识。
In a second experiment, the researchers surveyed pairs who had just met in a college classroom setting, and then surveyed the same pairs later. There was virtually no change in beliefs over time suggesting that if couples go into a relationship hoping to change the opinions of the other it is unlikely to work.
在第二项实验中，研究人员调查了大学教室里初识的人，一段时间之后又对他们进行调查。结果显示随着时间流逝他们的观念几乎没变，这就表明如果一个人抱着改变别人想法的态度去交朋友是不太可能成功的。
Prof Bahns from Wellesly College said: "Though the idea that partners influence each other is central in relationships research, we have identified a large domain in which friends show very little change-- personality, attitudes and values, and a selection of socially-relevant behaviors."
威雷斯利大学的巴恩斯教授说："尽管两人相互影响是人际关系研究的主流观点，但我们已经发现了很多朋友不能改变的地方，比如性格、态度和价值观以及种种社交相关行为。"
"To be clear, we do not mean to suggest that social influence doesn't happen in relationships; however, there's little room for influence to occur when partners are similar at the outset of relationships.
"要清楚，我们并非是说社交对人际关系没有影响，而是说，如果两人一开始就志趣相投的话，那么社交对人的改变极其有限。"
"Anything that disrupts the harmony of the relationship--such as areas of disagreement, especially on attitudes, values, or preferences that are important--is likely to persist.
"任何扰乱人际关系和谐的东西，比如两人间的分歧，尤其是态度、价值观或重要的偏好上的分歧，很有可能都不会随时间消弭。"
"Change is difficult and unlikely; it's easier to select people who are compatible with your needs and goals from the beginning."
"改变很难也不太可能，最好从一开始就选择跟你的需要和目标一致的人。"
However the researchers warn that the quest for similarity in friends could result in a lack of exposure to other ideas, values and perspectives.
但是研究人员也提醒道，只寻找跟自己志趣相投的朋友，可能会导致你无法接触到其他的观点、价值观和视角。