She is a global pop star. He is a charismatic and measured former Prime Minister. At first glance, Katy Perry and Justin Trudeau have nothing in common, except their notoriety.
However, the rumor of a rapprochement between the American singer and the Canadian leader recently panicked the web.
An unlikely couple… That everything is opposed (and yet)
An unlikely couple, certainly, but not so absurd according to psychologist Pascal Anger, a psychologist specializing in romantic relationships. According to him, unions “against the grain” often reveal our fascination with difference and our desire to confront the unknown.
“They say that opposites attract. Being in a relationship with someone very different from you allows you to travel into the other’s universe. he observes first of all. An attractive idea: the meeting between two completely opposite personalities.
Our expert, however, qualifies this idealized vision. “If there is no commonality between the protagonists, it may be doomed to failure. For a couple to work, they don’t necessarily have to look the same. Differences are a good thing, but we shouldn’t be opposites on everything.”
In other words, the key lies in finding the right balance. “If a person comes from a modest background and gets into a relationship with a very wealthy person, there can be a difference in values.” he cites as an example. “We must therefore be careful about how we manage these differences: origins, religion, political views… These are differences that can bring us together, but also create conflicts.”.
Compatibility, a question of balance
If opposites attract, it is often because they fill gaps in each other. “The most important thing is to complement each other. If we love others, it is often because they bring us a missing part. explains Pascal Anger. “Differences can teach us a lot about ourselves and broaden our horizons.
Moreover, according to the psychologist, communication remains the only key to overcoming these discrepancies. “We must constantly communicate with our partner, find what attracted us in the other and keep what suits us the most. This is how you build a lasting relationship.”
But these gaps can also weaken the relationship if one of the two feels inferior or misunderstood. “Be careful not to become self-conscious or uncomfortable with the person you are with. Differences can lead to judgment, from family or friends. We have to move on.”
Love, a mirror of our own limits
Generally speaking, atypical couples leave no one indifferent. The example of the presidential couple, long judged for their age difference, is proof of this. “The age difference, like that between Brigitte and Emmanuel Macron, raises a lot of questions and is the subject of comments” recalls Pascal Anger. “We can condemn this because we are envious, in reality, or because it represents something we forbid ourselves. And what we forbid ourselves, we condemn.”
These judgments often say more about those who make them than about the couples themselves. “This questions what we want, or what we are incapable of doing.” he continues.
Differences, passion… then disillusionment?
Finally, if differences are attractive at first, they can also become breaking points. “Distrust, because a rapprochement can take place thanks to differences, but secondly, this can also separate us” sums up Pascal Anger.
He cites the example of mixed couples. “Differences can bring people together, then at the moment of separation, it is these same differences that will be criticized.”
In summary, if the rumor between Katy Perry and Justin Trudeau has not yet been confirmed by those mainly concerned, it embodies something deeper: our contemporary fascination with unexpected or “impossible” couples.
And which symbolize our desire to believe that in love, everything is possible… Even the improbable.