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If you plan to pair up two friends up for a date, you should definitely go ahead with that as it will pay off in happiness for you. 

Matchmaking brings intrinsic happiness to the matchmaker, a new study has found. According to researchers, if you want to further maximize the psychological benefits of the time-honored tradition, you should take care to introduce two people who might not seem compatible and had a very less chance to meet each other.

"At some point, most people have made matches between others - like grabbing two strangers by the arm at a party and introducing them to each other - or can think of a friend notorious for their efforts to make introductions," said Lalin Anik, a postdoctoral fellow at Duke University's Fuqua School of Business in the press release. 

She further noted that the rising popularity of social networking websites such as Facebook and LinkedIN has made matchmaking effortless to social life. 

Researchers conducted an in-depth investigation of the present matchmaking process and examined what motivated to match others. They conducted four studies that will be presented at the Society for Personality and Social Psychology (SPSP) annual conference in Austin. 

"There are many reasons why people make matches," Anik said. "Matchmakers may be proud that they have the social acumen to recognize a social link that others hadn't." In addition, people may enjoy matchmaking because they view it as an act of kindness. And, of course, "people enjoy being the key person who made that critical match between newlyweds or between business partners who started a successful venture."

"The study of matchmaking is especially timely now as social structures, as well as definitions of social ties and friendships, are changing," Anik added in the press release. "Our exploration of matchmaking can help people to navigate their increasingly complex social webs."

The research is published in the journal Social Psychological and Personality Science.