Those wacky people at online dating site True.com are up to it again, talkhooing all logical and sciency about online dating, when everyone knows that the Martian/Venusian aspect of dating requires an alchemist, not a psychologist.
This time they have their Chief Psychologist, Dr. James Houran, responding to an interview with Online Personals Watch editor Mark Brooks, during which Houran explains their online dating candidate profiling and testing process. The interview is essentially a response to the CEO of Cupid.com, Eric Straus, having called such profiling “BS”.
During the interview, Houran explains his faith in True.com’s tests. “Can we identify the variables that are associated with long-term compatibility? Yes, we can. Can we measure these variables in a reliable and valid way? Yes, we can. Can we use and apply these variables? Yes, we can. Published research has already shown this. However, what we’ve learned from advanced statistics is that things we thought we knew often turn out to be skewed or wrong. For example, eHarmony’s test says “birds of a feather flock together.” The more similar a couple is the happier they will be in the relationship. That’s incorrect
“‘Similarity’ is a relationship principle that academics have long known from research to be oversimplified.” By contrast, he explains, “True matches people based on research concerning similar as well as complementary relationship variables. We take into account factors well beyond mere personality. Some of those variables include lifestyle preferences, world-views, sense of humor, social life, money management, and readiness to commit. Companies are free to use their preferred methods to pair individuals. Perfect Match uses a test derived from the popular Myers Briggs Type Indicator. We use what’s known as the ‘big five model’.”
Interesting.
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But far more interesting to usis that Dr. Houran displays an astounding likeness to David Hasselhoff. In fact, we are pretty sure that Houran must be Hasselhoff’s real, non-stage name, and who knew?..but psychology was his fallback career, and here he is, helping people hook up when he’s not out cruising around in Night Rider.
Don’t believe us? Check out the full interview, complete with Houran’s picture (click on the image to expand it) here.
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