We can make predictions about relationships - but is this necessary?

Separations hurt, but can be predicted to a certain extent. Image: Anne Günther (University of Jena) - University of Jena psychologists study longevity of couples' relationships It has probably never been easier to find a partner who is compatible with you - at least in theory. Internet dating platforms feed algorithms with information about those seeking a relationship in order to find the best match for them. But can this predictability be applied to a relationship? Is it possible to foresee from the start whether it will last?  Psychologists of Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Germany, and the University of Alberta, Canada, have looked into this question and have come to a clear conclusion: " Predictions as to the longevity of a relationship are definitely possible, " says Dr Christine Finn from the University of Jena. In the long-term study 'pairfam', she held regular interviews over seven years with nearly 2,000 couples, 16 per cent of which broke up during this period.  " Right at the outset of a relationship, one can find typical features - that is to say certain prediction variables - that provide information on whether or not the relationship will be long-lasting ." - Those who start off unhappy will become even more unhappy. In psychology, there are currently two scientific models, which describe the course of a relationship in different ways, explains Finn. One posits that all couples are initially more or less equally happy.