Are people usually attracted to someone who looks like them?

Attracted? No. Attraction isn't really limited by similarity, in fact it's often quite the opposite. When something is new and foreign it's exciting, and thus attractive. Cultural divides can often be bridged for a short period of time, enough for both parties to get a taste of another way of life. This works well for dating, but in most cases not so well for a LTR (I'll explain).

Irreconcilable differences often arise; what religion will the child be raised in? If there are two languages involved, is only one taught or both? How do you deal with families who don't approve, or have different views of how and where you should live? And so on.

There is significant data out there to suggest that people are more likely to marry (or have a LTR) with someone who is similar to them. It's easy to understand why. Ugly people are with ugly people, fat people with fat people, Christians with Christians, atheists with atheists. Even races are more likely to stick together. It's not prejudice, it's more of a pack instinct. You try to stick with what you're most comfortable with. If you're a black kid raised by a white family, you'll probably marry a white guy. You'd identify with, dare I say it, the 'white culture'.

Someone who is overweight may be attracted to a slimmer person, but they're more comfortable with someone who doesn't make them feel so bad about themselves. Plus there's always the feelings of the more attractive person to consider -- they have more options and don't have to 'settle, so to speak, for someone who isn't as concerned about their appearance. An atheist and a Christian would encounter some of the same problems that multicultural couples face.

Interracial couples are more common if they're both born in the US, though even then they usually have to be in a city where races are mixed. I don't mean to imply segregation, just that many large cities are separated into sections by ethnicity, so unless you're upper class you're going to be surrounded by your own race.

In relation to your question about mother-son, daughter-father, that was never about physical appearance. Behavior and smell. I don't know how credible that theory is, but from what I've heard some girls will go for a guy who reminds them of their father (assuming he was a good guy) when they're looking for a LTR. I mentioned scent because it's the sense that triggers the strongest memories. If a guy smells like her father it can bring up happy memories - or so I've heard. Like I said, I can't vouch for the credibility of that one.

As for guys and their mothers, I would doubt that one. A gal may say the same thing about the other, I don't know. *shrug*

As usual, I wrote more than I intended.

no way, if they do then am swered up the rear. lol.

NO. Most of the time given access to people of other races and cultures, most people are attracted by the Other, someone who is different from them. Yes there are exceptions, and some people are just plain racist and won't look outside of their own ethnic group, but the general rule is that the Other is always more fascinating and attractive. Look at me, I'm always lusting after Asian women even though I'm married to a wonderful Venezuelan girl.

I have to say I have never heard of that. If you are talking about basic attraction I have read scent is a major component along with symmetry. Not scent as in your perfume but your natural scent, pheromones. Supposedly the more symmetrical your body is the more attractive you are to someone's subconscious. It is the things that play on your subconscious that are the most powerful.

No, even though I'm more comfortable with other Vietnamese I admit I'm fascinated by men from other cultures. I try to talk with them all I can although dating them, probably not. My family would have problems with it.and so would I.it would have to be a guy who was willing to accept our culture if he wan't Vietnamese.

But I think if I lived in Vietnam I would be inclined to marry someone from another culture just because it's more interesting. Different ways of looking at the world fascinate me. I think most people have that same inclination although not everyone has the opportunity to meet many people from different cultures.