Playing the matchmaker can make you happier

PHOTO | FILE 

In Summary

• Researchers from Duke University came to this conclusion after investigating what motivates people to play cupid even when it often goes wrong
• It was however noted that when a match came with a price, it often detracted from the happiness and the matchmakers did not enjoy it as much

By Joan Thatiah
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If you want to be happier, you should play cupid more often, a new study has revealed. According to the study, your efforts at matching up your single friends might pay off for you too in emotional benefits.

Researchers from Duke University came to this conclusion after investigating what motivates people to play cupid even when it often goes wrong. In the first study, they polled 300 people on how frequently and successfully they made matches. They found that regardless of a matchmaker’s social network size or personality traits, successful matches, both professional and social, were both linked to higher happiness scores.

The second and third studies involved in person and computer-based scenarios and the researchers found that what they were sensing in the participants was more than the normal satisfaction that comes from accomplishing a task. The participants also reported that matching people they thought would get along was more rewarding than matching people who wouldn’t get along or people who simply looked alike.

HIGHER WELLBEING

In general, matchmakers had a higher wellbeing and the least likely matches were the ones that were most rewarding. This effect is not only limited to romantic connections as matching two colleagues with matching skill sets boosted the matchmaker’s mood.

It was however noted that when a match came with a price, it often detracted from the happiness and the matchmakers did not enjoy it as much.

Trying to explain these findings which have been published in the journal Social Psychological and Personality Science, the researchers say that it could be that people who make matches often come from larger social networks which have been linked with a higher wellbeing.

The researchers also hypothesised that the reason why matchmaking brings about happiness or increases one’s sense of meaning could be that matchmaking strengthens people’s social groups. It also singles you out as a source of power in that connection and makes you appear helpful thus upping your likability. Another reason could be that helping others make the same decisions you have made makes you happier and validates your choices.

In light of these findings, it is clear that matchmaking will bring intrinsic happiness to the matchmaker but to maximise the psychological effects, take care to introduce two people who not only seem compatible but who would be unlikely to meet otherwise.