Do opposites attract?

I often meet clients who are not happy that their partner is very different from them. It is not so much about the habits of doing things a certain way but personality types. Most often probably the issue is temperament and extroversion-introversion. Introverted people gain energy by contemplating things internally, extraverts need to talk and socialize with others. Not being able to share their thoughts frustrates extraverts and being forced to talk is hard to bear for introverts. Some people are implusive, blurt out first reactions in an emotional way and perhaps scare those who think long and hard before saying something. For both, the other can be annoying.
So is the relationship between "the opposites" doomed?

Actually, the theory suggests that complementarity makes the relationship more sustainable than symmetry meaning that it is much harder to have a long and satisfying relationship when people are too much alike. Often you see traits in others which you are critical about in yourself and this may be unpleasant. However, when we talk about a couple as a team, then it is good to have different personalities involved because then you together are more resilient and adaptive to different situations and the changing environment conditions. For example, there are times when patience and contemplation are needed, then the person whose strong suit this is should be in charge. When things need to be decided quickly, the other person takes over. Sometimes we need the one with more initiative and active nature to make things happen while at other times, the other helps the couple to stay back and let things play themselves out.

It is interestring how often the differences in people are made out to be a power game. I know that it is hard for him to start the process of looking for a new job and I know that I have the drive, the skills and the activity level to do it but I still want him to do it. Why? As a matter of teaching him a lesson or just teaching him? Perhaps it is better to look at you and me as a team and divide the resources according to each others strengths. Of course we need to compromise and develop the traits which we struggle with but there is a saying which I think is true that a leopard cannot change its spots. When a woman has ideas how to spend free time together and is good at organizing events, why not do it! When a man goes along with it, its fine, isn't it? When a man has excellent teaching skills why not have him be the primary parent to help the kids study the challenging subjects? Sounds reasonable? Try it!