Instant Chemistry uses Biological
and Psychological Factors to Reduce
Relationship Conflict
Beating the odds
At some point we all feel dissatisfaction with our relationship. Even newlyweds who enjoy a state of happy preoccupation with their love will eventually return to earth, and part of their satisfaction with life will depend, as it does for the rest of us, on how we relate to our partner. In fact, after just 2 years of marriage most couples report a significant drop in overall life satisfaction (1). One of the reasons for the decrease are the accumulation of unresolved recurring conflicts in a relationship. Whether due to the expectations we put on our partners to fully understand our true self or due to the quirks that wear thin, eventually unresolved issues will become the root cause of common arguments
Recurring arguments can be a constant source of frustration because of hurt feelings and loss of trust. An impasse today, left unaddressed, may lead to a chronic source of increased anxiety and added stress for both you and your partner. In order to improve relationship engagement and commitment, we believe it is essential to help couples find new ways to identify and address potential and existing areas of conflict.
Instant Chemistry's Relationship Kit is designed to help couples develop greater awareness of each other’s behaviors and improve their ability to resolve conflict. For less than the cost of a night out, you and your partner will receive personalized reports focused on three main areas of compatibility that will help improve, strengthen and enhance your relationship.
The Basics of
Relationship Compatibility
Now, with advancements in relationship science, DNA can be used to help you and your partner improve your relationship. Instant Chemistry has developed a method for assessing relationship compatibility based on scientific principles - a combination of genetics and psychology. We now have a deeper understanding of what makes relationships successful and are continuing to learn more every day. This research has come from academic institutions around the world and has been published in numerous peer-reviewed journals.
Our genetic and psychological tests allow you to analyze your compatibility with your partner in a safe, private, and cost-effective way. Recent research has shown that biologically compatible partners are more physically attracted to each other, experience longer lasting relationships, and have better sex lives. Instant Chemistry can help give you insights into how your relationship ticks and where strengths and weaknesses may lie. Go ahead and learn about your relationship and help it grow.
Biocompatibility
In a landmark study led by Dr. Claus Wedekind of University of Lausanne, Switzerland in 1995, women were asked to smell shirts worn by men and rank them. They consistently ranked men with HLA genes unlike their own as more attractive. Since this publication, many other studies have confirmed that up to 40% of physical attraction can be determined through our genes alone. There is now strong scientific evidence that biologically compatible partners enjoy greater attraction to one another and have superior relationship stability.
Biological compatibility is a form of genetic compatibility between people. Couples in long-term relationships were often found to have very different immune system genes from their partner (2,3,4,5). Research shows that children born to couples with very different immune system genes are more likely to successfully defend themselves against a greater variety of infections (6). But not only does scientific evidence point to children with strong immune systems, the research has shown that these couples also enjoy more satisfying sex lives (6), greater marital stability (2,7), increased fertility rates (8,9), and find each other more attractive (2).
Sexual Chemistry
Some of the genes in your immune system that will be classified in the Instant Chemistry process belong to the Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) system. They are located in a genetic region of chromosome #6, known as the Major Histocompatibility Complex. Although the HLA system is made up of many different genes, the three genes: HLA-A, HLA-B and HLA-DRB1 play an important role in biological compatibility (10). These genes help identify foreign entities in our bodies, such as bacteria causing infections. These genes also contribute to creating our unique body scent (10). Research shows that we subconsciously detect how similar or different another person’s immune system is from our own through their body scent (11,12). These instinctual preferences strongly affect human attraction and help us chose our romantic partners.
Neurocompatibility
In the beginning stages of most exciting new relationships our brain chemistry and hormone levels are far from normal. For example, a hormone called oxytocin affects how empathic you are to others, how strongly you pair-bond and attachment security. In addition, your desire to seek out new sensations and experiences can be influenced your brain’s sensitivity to a hormone called dopamine. Understanding your partner’s emotional behavior is the key to successfully dealing with relationship challenges, solving problems and better communication. We now have the ability to reveal vital information which would normally take years for you to learn over time with your partner.
Relationship Style
Attachment security that people feel affect their relationship satisfaction. Oxytocin affects many social behaviours, one of these being attachment security. In the oxytocin receptor gene, OXTR, there are different DNA sequences between people. These differences alter relationship satisfaction by changing attachment security. At the site of these differences, people are termed to have either the ‘A’ or ‘G’ genetic variant. Those people carrying 2 copies of the G variant reported greater attachment security and higher relationship satisfaction (13). At another location in the OXTR gene, there are more differences in DNA sequences. These differences affect pair-bonding. Pair-bonding is a strong affinity between two people that promotes a life-long bond. At the site of these differences, people are also termed to have either the ‘A’ or ‘G’ genetic variant. Women with 2 copies of the G variant showed higher pair-bonding (14). In men, increased oxytocin response also increased pair-bonding. This increased response caused men to see their partner’s face as more attractive than other people (15). Couples who experience difficulties in attachment security or pair-bonding are at risk of reduced relationship satisfaction. Instant Chemistry can identify this genetic component of a relationship. Instant Chemistry works to minimize the risk of reduced relationship satisfaction from genetic causes.
Empathetic Ability
Oxytocin is a hormone which has broad influences on both our social and emotional behaviors. The oxytocin receptor moderates the effect of oxytocin on our body. There are many different versions of the oxytocin receptor, but two have been identified to play an important role in how empathetic we are and how we respond to stress. Individuals who are the ‘G’ version of the gene display continually high emotional empathy towards others and experience lessened stress responses compared to people who have the ‘A’ version of the gene (16). It is interesting however, that the way we live our life impacts the effect of this gene on our social and emotional behaviors (17). Because understanding your partner’s emotional behavior is the key to successfully dealing with relationship challenges, knowing which oxytocin receptor variants two individuals carry help empower the couple to impact their genetics by impacting their lives.
Thrill Seeker Habits
Thrill Seekers have a tendency to be more extroverted, impulsive and adventurous. Whether one of both halves of a couple are thrill seekers impacts relationship satisfaction. If neither person is a thrill seeker, the couple are at risk of being caught in their ways. If one person is a thrill seeker, the couple is more likely to keep things fresh by trying new things. If both people engage in thrill seeking, this can detriment a relationship by putting the relationship at risk financially or otherwise. A gene called BDNF helps neurons in the brain survive. In BDNF there are different DNA sequences between people. These different sequences push a person to be more introverted or extroverted. At the site of these differences, people are termed to have either the ‘Val’ or ‘Met’ genetic variations. People with the ‘Met’ variation are more introverted (18). Different DNA sequences in another two genes have been connected to impulsive behaviour. These genes are called HTR2A and COMT. HTR2A is a serotonin receptor and COMT is a dopamine enzyme. With the right combination of DNA sequences in HTR2A and COMT, a person is more likely to act impulsively (19). Additionally, different DNA sequences in another gene called TCF4 have been associated with risk taking. At the site of these differences people are termed to carry either ‘A’ or ‘G’ genetic variant. People who carry the ‘G’ variant are more likely to engage in risk taking activities (20). Instant Chemistry looks at a couple’s level of thrill seeking. Based on the couple’s thrill seeking behaviour, Instant Chemistry assesses the positive and negative impact it could have on their relationship. Instant Chemistry works to avoid negative outcomes of thrill seeking on relationship satisfaction from genetic causes.
Emotional Resilience
Catechol-O-methyl transferase or COMT is an enzyme that breaks down dopamine in the brain. Researchers have found that we carry different versions of this gene which affect how quickly our brains process dopamine. One version of this gene (‘Val’) breaks down dopamine quickly while the other version (‘Met’) does so slowly. The terms ‘Val’ and ‘Met’ are simply used to indicate the difference between the two versions of the enzyme. A person with a ‘Val’ version has a valine amino acid at position 158 of the COMT enzyme while a person with a ‘Met’ version has a methionine amino acid instead. People with the ‘Val’ version of the gene tend to score lower on tests of executive function (21,22). Executive function is an umbrella term for cognitive functions such as, reasoning and problem-solving. They also experience less pleasure out of daily life (23). On the other hand, carriers of the ‘Val’ version of the gene are better at handling stress and pain than people with the ‘Met’ version of the gene. They are also more resilient to negative events and experience less anxiety (24). People with the Met version of the gene are known as worriers because they tend to have higher anxiety (24) and lower emotional resilience to negative events. They also tend to experience stress and pain almost 6 times greater than people who only carry the ‘Val’ version of the gene (24). However, people with the ‘Met’ version of the gene tend to be more creative, get more pleasure out of life (23), score better on tests of executive function (21,22) and are often better at reading comprehension.
Psychological Compatibility
Instant Chemistry uses a psychological instrument specifically designed for profiling behavioral patterns in four well-researched dimensions of relationships. The goal is to determine interpersonal compatibility in the most efficient and effective manner possible. Completing the test generally requires 10-15 minutes at most. The test creator is award-winning psychologist Dr. Joel Block, a renowned clinical psychologist specializing in couple therapy. Dr. Block is Board Certified in Couple therapy by the American Board of Professional Psychology, and a senior psychologist on the staff of the North Shore-Long Island Jewish Medical Center and an Assistant Clinical Professor (Psychology/Psychiatry) at the Hofstra North Shore-LIJ Medical School. For twenty years he was the training supervisor of the Sexuality Center at Long Island-Jewish Medical Center. Dr. Block is the author of over 20 books on Love and Sex, his specialty.
REFERENCES
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- 2C.E. Garver-Apgar, S.W. Gangestad, R. Thornhill, R.D. Miller, J.J. Olp, Major histocompatibility complex alleles, sexual responsivity, and unfaithfulness in romantic couples. Psychol Sci. 17 (2006) 830-835.
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