<p>Concepts like <em>love</em> and <em>attraction</em> are not only poorly defined, but in this context are too complex to discuss meaningfully, if a scientific answer is what you are after. It is also hard to quantify 'different' when it comes to people - there are just too many variables to compare.</p>

<p>But, there is actually some principles and models that could be part of a more complete answer.</p>

<h1>Total Free Energy</h1>

<p>Both the TOTAL<sup>1</sup> model (an extension of the famous TOTE<sup>2</sup> model), or the free energy principle<sup>3</sup>, assert the following:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Us humans constantly form predictions that serve as expected state, and then compare them to the actual state of the world/body (via senses).</p>
</blockquote>

<p>This applies to both micro levels (say, communication between neuron layers) and micro level (consciousness).</p>

<p>It then goes:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>When the predicted state matches the actual state, nothing to do. When there is incongruity, we must either change our predications (models/goals) or the world (by acting).</p>
</blockquote>

<p>In this view, the brain is largely a differential processor - rather than processing stimuli all the way bottom-up, it generates top-down predictions and only left with validating them against stimuli.</p>

<p>This is a hugely efficient optimisation strategy for the sake of metabolic economy.</p>

<p>It also goes to explain:</p>

<ul>
<li>Why we stop perceiving mechanical clocks after spending some time in a room.</li>
<li>Why new objects (shoes, houses) excite when new but hence after peter out.</li>
<li>Why relationships tend to cool-off over time (and in turn why some people cheat on their partner).</li>
</ul>

<p>In extremely general terms - that that doesn't change doesn't excite.</p>

<p>Now back to Friston:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>For survival sake, all living things strive to minimise surprises by forming and updating a model of their environment.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Things get interesting when survival is no longer a concern...</p>

<h1>Diversity</h1>

<p>Taking into account the said above, picking someone who's different from you in many aspects means your mental models are challenged more often, which could yield excitement.</p>

<p>I think a good example is dating someone of different nationality, say a Westerner dating an Easterner. Differences can go both way (good and bad), but it is exciting nevertheless.</p>

<hr>

<p><sup>1</sup> Wang, C. and Mukhopadhyay, A., 2012. The Dynamics of Goal Revision: A Cybernetic Multiperiod Test- Operate-Test-Adjust-Loop (TOTAL) Model of Self-Regulation. Journal of Consumer Research, 38(5), pp. 815-832.</p>

<p><sup>2</sup> Miller, G.A., Galanter, E. and Pribram, K.H., 1986. Plans and the Structure of Behavior. Adams Bannister Cox.</p>

<p><sup>3</sup> Friston, K., 2010. The free-energy principle: a unified brain theory?. Nature reviews neuroscience, 11(2), p.127.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-06-20T07:37:56.817Z
You have given an interesting answer where you seem to indicate that these people like unprepredictive relationships inducing excitement that way. What about comfort through familiar situations? And what about excitement through maintenance of intimacy? Your answer doesn't seem to take into account the possibility that the people you describe may not prefer that and why.
Chris Rogers
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-06-19T22:48:49.753Z
2019-06-19T22:57:15.240Z
2019-06-19T22:57:15.240Z
Izhaki
<p>I have noticed than many couples are very different from each other but yet they fell in love in spite their differences. I was wondering about the psychology behind this. 
Why would someone want to be with someone that has different likes </p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-06-20T07:44:54.800Z
Welcome to Psychology.SE. As pointed out in the answer by @Izhaki there is nowhere near enough information in your question to provide a full answer.  I am also wondering how opinion-based the answer would need to be on this as all sorts of factors could come into play. What do you mean by *different likes*? Different likes in social activities? In food? In people?... Also what have you read on the subject of relationship formations? If you haven't found anything online what did you Google?
Chris Rogers
<emotion><love>
Why do very different people attract each other?
Nat
# Why do very different people attract each other?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2019-06-19)

I have noticed than many couples are very different from each other but yet they fell in love in spite their differences. I was wondering about the psychology behind this.
Why would someone want to be with someone that has different likes

**Tags:** emotion, love

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Welcome to Psychology.SE. As pointed out in the answer by @username_2 there is nowhere near enough information in your question to provide a full answer.  I am also wondering how opinion-based the answer would need to be on this as all sorts of factors could come into play. What do you mean by *different likes*? Different likes in social activities? In food? In people?... Also what have you read on the subject of relationship formations? If you haven't found anything online what did you Google?  

---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2019-06-19. Score: -1 | Accepted answer

Concepts like *love* and *attraction* are not only poorly defined, but in this context are too complex to discuss meaningfully, if a scientific answer is what you are after. It is also hard to quantify 'different' when it comes to people - there are just too many variables to compare.

But, there is actually some principles and models that could be part of a more complete answer.

# Total Free Energy

Both the TOTAL1 model (an extension of the famous TOTE2 model), or the free energy principle3, assert the following:

> Us humans constantly form predictions that serve as expected state, and then compare them to the actual state of the world/body (via senses).

This applies to both micro levels (say, communication between neuron layers) and micro level (consciousness).

It then goes:

> When the predicted state matches the actual state, nothing to do. When there is incongruity, we must either change our predications (models/goals) or the world (by acting).

In this view, the brain is largely a differential processor - rather than processing stimuli all the way bottom-up, it generates top-down predictions and only left with validating them against stimuli.

This is a hugely efficient optimisation strategy for the sake of metabolic economy.

It also goes to explain:

* Why we stop perceiving mechanical clocks after spending some time in a room.
* Why new objects (shoes, houses) excite when new but hence after peter out.
* Why relationships tend to cool-off over time (and in turn why some people cheat on their partner).

In extremely general terms - that that doesn't change doesn't excite.

Now back to Friston:

> For survival sake, all living things strive to minimise surprises by forming and updating a model of their environment.

Things get interesting when survival is no longer a concern...

# Diversity

Taking into account the said above, picking someone who's different from you in many aspects means your mental models are challenged more often, which could yield excitement.

I think a good example is dating someone of different nationality, say a Westerner dating an Easterner. Differences can go both way (good and bad), but it is exciting nevertheless.

---

1 Wang, C. and Mukhopadhyay, A., 2012. The Dynamics of Goal Revision: A Cybernetic Multiperiod Test- Operate-Test-Adjust-Loop (TOTAL) Model of Self-Regulation. Journal of Consumer Research, 38(5), pp. 815-832.

2 Miller, G.A., Galanter, E. and Pribram, K.H., 1986. Plans and the Structure of Behavior. Adams Bannister Cox.

3 Friston, K., 2010. The free-energy principle: a unified brain theory?. username_0ure reviews neuroscience, 11(2), p.127.

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: You have given an interesting answer where you seem to indicate that these people like unprepredictive relationships inducing excitement that way. What about comfort through familiar situations? And what about excitement through maintenance of intimacy? Your answer doesn't seem to take into account the possibility that the people you describe may not prefer that and why.  

---

