Dating in the modern age can be tough.
But, if you're a single lady looking to crack the male code, you've come to the right place.
Here are some behaviors that are proven to attract men the most, according to science!
A little laughter goes a long way
Apparently, it's not enough to just think that your date is funny.
He also has to know you think he's funny, remember: The male ego can be as fragile as
a tiny sparrow egg.
"Oh, oh, it's OK!
I mean, it's not OK, but… sh sh sh sh sh…"
A study performed by three universities across the United States and Canada found that while
both men and women are attracted to people who have a, quote, "good sense of humor,"
men interpret this phrase differently than women.
They're not necessarily looking for a partner who is funny herself, but one that can appreciate
a good joke, or specifically, their jokes.
Basically, men like it when women laugh at their jokes, but they don't care so much as
to whether said woman is funny herself.
A different study by a neuroscientist and professor of psychology at the University
of Maryland found that women, too, are more likely to see themselves as the partner who
appreciates humor, but not necessarily the one who cracks the jokes.
If you wanna be my lover...
If you're interested in someone, you undoubtedly want him and your friends to get along.
After all, if the Spice Girls said it, it's gotta be true.
Surprisingly, your friends may have been what endeared your man to you in the first place.
It sounds odd, but this phenomenon is called "the cheerleader effect."
And if that sounds like it's something Barney Stinson from How I Met Your Mother would say,
it's because, well, he has brought it up.
"You have just become victims of the cheerleader effect…
The cheerleader effect is when a group of women seems hot, but only as a group."
Nevertheless, this theory is rooted in truth… as scummy as it might sound.
According to a study published in Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, "a group's
physical attractiveness is greater than the average attractiveness of its members."
It's strange, but this may be because of how our brains decipher visual input.
George Alvarez, a professor of psychology at Harvard University, explained that we as
humans can only process a handful of objects at any given time.
Our brains make do with this limitation by paying attention to the "most relevant incoming
information" and grouping details.
Yes, even cheerleaders it would seem.
Because men.
Letting your hair down
While a cute little updo can brighten your mood and make an outfit pop, science says
that it's the wrong hairstyle to lure in a potential romantic partner.
Sorry, ladies!
Using six different hairstyles, researchers were able to determine just what men find
attractive.
In the end, only two hairstyles, long and medium-length hair, had, quote, "a significant
positive effect on ratings of women's attractiveness."
Additionally, men considered women with longer-length hair to be healthier, "especially if the subjects
were less attractive women."
While the other hairstyles, quote, "did not influence the evaluation of their physical
beauty" one way or the other, having medium to long hair and letting it down downright
mystifies men, at least, according to science.
Of course, how you decide to style yourself is totally up to you, but there's no harm
in doing the ol' sexy librarian experiment and letting your hair down to see how he responds.
Shopping like a long-term partner
While you may be lusting over an Hermés handbag, both men and women don't find luxury purchases
so attractive when they're made by their potential partners.
At least that's what Theresa E. DiDonato, Associate Professor of Psychology at Loyola
University Maryland, and Brittany K. Jakubiak from the Department of Psychology at Carnegie
Mellon University, revealed in their 2015 study.
As part of their research, participants were asked to read descriptions of a stranger's
purchase decisions, which included whether the purchase was "eco-friendly" or "luxury."
The participants then reported what they thought of the stranger, including their "potential
romantic interest."
The professors revealed:
"Compared to luxury purchasers, eco-friendly purchasers were ascribed greater warmth, competence,
and good partner traits, but less physical appeal, and they were preferred for long-term
but not short-term relationships."
Basically, men and women lust for Lexuses, but they want to settle down with the Priuses
of the world.
Interest sparks interest
Jeremy Nicholson, author of the book The Attraction Doctor, told Shape that simply showing interest
in, and listening to, your date is, quote, "like an aphrodisiac, and will cause the other
person to find you more attractive."
Sounds obvious, right?
Of course women should show interest in a potential partner!
"Right!
Duh doy!"
But, how does one actually show interest?
Science has determined that, much like other mammals, our body language, or, more specifically,
movements, play a role in attracting a mate.
As it happens, what women can do to attract a man is not much different from what female
gorillas do to attract a mate.
From pursing their lips to maintaining eye contact, they've got this seduction thing
figured out.
"The way she's staring at him like that, that's classic solicitation.
Very subtle, as gorillas are."
What's that say about men?
We'll leave that for you to decide.
In a more human and practical way, Nicholson advises leaning in toward your date, smiling,
and making, and keeping, eye contact.
You've got this!