Similarity conquers all: A dyadic study of the Big Five’s extraversion similarity and the Michelangelo phenomenon on marital satisfaction in the Thai context

Abstract

Young adults striving to succeed in life tend to build romantic relationships that will lead to personal growth as key mechanisms in the Michelangelo phenomenon (i.e., goals, dreams, and aspirations). Such relationships are a key to success. In this research, we investigated the dyadic influence of the similarity effects of the Big Five’s extraversion trait and marital satisfaction mediated by the Michelangelo phenomenon. Using the data of 201 Thai newly married couples (aged 24–39 years, married less than 5 years, N = 201 dyads, M = 31.49 years; SD = 4.35). A cross-sectional Actor-partner Interdependence model revealed that an extraverted husband who provides affirmation to his spouse increases his own marital satisfaction. This could imply that providing affirmation portrays his masculinity, fulfilling his manhood. Likewise, an extraverted wife who receives and provides affirmation to her husband increases her marital satisfaction, suggesting that positive expressions enhance her marital satisfaction. Evidence shows that partner affirmation was at the core of the Michelangelo phenomenon. Moreover, extraversion similarity suggests that the higher the similarity in extraversion for couples, the higher the marital satisfaction via partner affirmation in the Michelangelo phenomenon. This aligns with attraction similarity theory. It thus appears the Michelangelo phenomenon could be replicated in collectivistic cultures.