What do Drake, Justin Beiber and People's current Sexiest Man Alive Adam Levine all
have in common? Regrettable tattoos probably. And they're all walking examples of the sexual
selection theory of music. But really probably some regrettable tattoos.
There were two recent studies supporting the idea that just holding a guitar not even playing
it can help get a guy a date. Want to date me now? A recent study out of Israel found
that a FaceBook picture of a guy holding a guitar increased his positive message response
rate from women up to 28% from 10%. It's pretty easy being a dude and getting a date when
got a ukelele. Similarly a French experiment sent a guy out onto the streets asking women
for their phone numbers and when he did so holding a guitar case he got their numbers
31% of the time compared to only 14% of the time when he wasn't holding anything. I call
this one chick magnet. What does all of this mean? Scholars say that this supports the
sexual selection theory of music which is that playing music offers three signals that
are very attractive to potential mates. Creativity, intelligence and time commitment. It requires
all three of those things for you to master an instrument. [Recorder]. And on top of that
one landmark study from 2000 linked higher levels of testosterone with greater right
hemisphere development in the brain which then fostered greater musical prowess which
lead those researchers to say well, perhaps music is a positive mating signal to women
because we actually see when we hear that guitar music higher levels of testosterone,
a manlier man. Sometimes in love you got to pull out the big guns. The relationship between
music and romance aren't just closely intertwined in our brains but also in our cultures when
you consider how commonly music goes along with our courtship rituals. Hello John Cusack
in 'Say Anything'. Interestingly when those same French researchers who sent the guy out
on the streets with a guitar case performed the same experiment again with a woman holding
a guitar case the guitar made no difference. So awkward when your boyfriend walks in on
you and you're playing the ukelele dressed like a man. Oh wow this, uhhh-ugh. Or you
could play a duet. I feel like I'm being hit on by a man. [Laughter]. What if I sing you
this song? [Singing] I think you're incredible Professor Boyfriend. Woohooohoo. See it doesn't
work the same for girls. Now what about men attracting men and women attracting women,
well there hasn't been a study yet! Get on it researchers. In a nutshell the reason why
women tend to be so attracted to musicians is that well we are hearing a lot more than
just the notes of a song. Creativity, intelligence, commitment, time investment, testosterone
and hopefully, a nice singing voice to go along with it. And thanks to Stuff Mom Never
Told You viewer Rodrigo Nasamento for asking me this question about why women are attracted
to musicians. I want to hear from you, do you find gentlemen that women seem to be more
attracted to friends of yours who are in bands or to you when you pick up an instrument.
Ladies I want to hear from you are guys in bands hot commodities or dealbreakers?