Do people really date their parents?

Scientists have long known that species including birds, mammals and fish pick mates that look similar to their parents. This is known as positive sexual imprinting. Women tend on average to pick partners whose faces look a bit like their fathers, while men often choose partners who slightly resemble their mothers.

Why are people attracted to their parents?

Psychologists describe being attracted to their parent as “imprinting,” which is when an animal or person identifies their parent as someone they can trust and rely on at a young age.