joh08991: April 2012 Archives

I found a snippet in the Lilienfeld text that discussed personality traits that are associated with dog & cat people. Dog people are personal, outgoing, fun people where as, cat people are quiet, a bit neurotic, and like to be alone. As I relate this information to myself without a doubt, I'm considered to be a "dog person". Like the personality traits of a typical dog person I love to explore and be around people.

I also acknowledge that my own life experiences have played into the fondness I have for these wet-nosed friends. Since I was a child I've had positive experiences with dogs. The very first dog I encountered was my grandparent's dog, Griffin. He let me play with him, even if I pulled his tail. My grandparents also had a cat named Katze. Katze didn't have Griffin's disposition at all. He would claw me if I tried to play with him & screech at me if I tried to hold him. The negative experiences I had with this cat tainted my future encounters with these felines.

When I was in fourth grade my family got my dog Duncan. He and I hit it off right away. His personality was very agreeable and he was always ready to play. Duncan would follow me around and always greet me at the door when I came home. Like most dog owners, I felt a connection to him unlike any bond I had with a human. Even when Duncan became an old dog he still showed the same affection towards me as he did when he was a puppy.

Despite my own personal preference between dogs or cats, I believe that any pet is a good pet to have. They bring out the best characteristics people and always keep you company especially when life gets tough.


Personality Traits Discussed:

An additional video for the "Dog people":

The time old question, "Do opposites attract?" currently plays a roll in my dating life, I assume most other people's as well. The type of guy I'm initially attracted is what society has coined "The Bad Boy". To define a "Bad Boy" I'll cue in this ABC News article for the best description this type of guy, The Bad Boy "...is a guy with such high self-esteem he could aptly be called a narcissist. The guy who wins women over with deceit, callousness and impulsive behavior."[Grayson]

After reading this fairly accurate definition of a "Bad Boy", you may question, "How could you be attracted to this type of guy?" It's only the initial attraction that draws me in. My best friend often uses a behavior theory to explain this phenomenon, she explains, "The reason why we surround ourselves with our polar opposites is that we admire the differences in personalities that they posses." I have to agree with her, because this theory rings some truth to my own relationships. I tend to be indecisive, a bit naïve, laid back, & reserved when it comes to dating. In contrast, I tend to seek out in my partner a decisive, outgoing and experienced type of guy with a bit of a wild side. According to my friend's theory, the traits that my potential partner posses also I secretly desirer to be.

Rivaling the behavior theory my friend came up with I found an alternative explanation, which refutes the "opposite attracts" quandary. According to the video I posed below, 760 people surveyed 85% said that they would most desire dating their opposite over someone similar to them. That means from this survey alone 646 people are dating are apt to date the wrong type of person.

Understanding that I'm not alone mistakenly dating Mr. Right Now comforts me a little. And I can't feel too bad that I haven't found my "Mr. Right" just yet. Realizing it's a mistake to date my polar opposite aka Mr. Right Now has helped me also recognize my own pitfalls when it comes to dating. Instead of dating "Bad Boys" it appears as though I should be dating someone who is mostly like me a laid back & a plays it safe kind of guy. The only problem is, will I ever meet a guy like this?

Source--

Grayson, Audrey. "Why Nice Guys Finish Last." ABC News. ABC News Network, 19 June 2008. Web. 04 Apr. 2012. .