What determines who we find attractive?

Attraction is determined by a mix of universal physical cues (like facial symmetry), personal experiences (familiarity, parental traits), psychological factors (similarity in values, reciprocity, confidence), biological predispositions (body odor/MHC genes), and cultural ideals, all influenced by proximity and exposure to certain individuals. Key factors include seeing people often (proximity), finding people similar to ourselves or loved ones (familiarity/similarity), liking those who like us back (reciprocity), and subconscious cues about genetic fitness (pheromones/MHC).

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What determines who you find attractive?

Looks, personality, status within society, power, wealth, and trustworthiness. Those are the most common factors. You don't need all of the above, as everyone values the above differently. But you do need to nail some of this, at least within the range of the people you are trying to attract.

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What is the 3 6 9 rule in relationships?

3-6-9 rule is 3 months honeymoon phase of the relationship 6 months is conflict stage, 9 months is the decision phase is this really worth pursuing or not.

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Is it true that people see you 20% attractive?

Yes, the idea that people see you as significantly more attractive (often cited as around 20% more) than you see yourself is a common concept in psychology, stemming from research suggesting we are overly critical of our own appearance due to familiarity and focusing on flaws, while others see a more complete picture including personality, kindness, and humor. This difference happens because you see yourself in mirrors (reversed) and photos (often unflattering angles/lighting) while others see you as you are, in real-time, noticing your overall vibe, confidence, and smile more than minor imperfections.
 

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Why do we find some people attractive but not others?

similarity: how like you they are, for example, do you share similar interests or values. reciprocity: we're more likely to like people who like us. physical attractiveness: are they pleasing to look at? familiarity: we like people who seem comfortable to us.

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the science behind what we find attractive

28 related questions found

What is the 3 law of attraction?

Like attracts like, Nature abhors a vacuum, and The present is always perfect. These aren't just catchy phrases; they are the core principles of the Law of Attraction, a philosophy suggesting that our thoughts and feelings have the power to shape our reality.

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What is the psychology behind finding people attractive?

One reason that we like attractive people is because they are rewarding. We like being around attractive people because they are enjoyable to look at and because being with them makes us feel good about ourselves. Attractiveness can imply high status, and we naturally like being around people who have it.

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At what age does beauty peak?

Excluding the 10% most and 10% least beautiful women, women's attractiveness does not change between 18 and 40. If extremes are included, however, "there's no doubt that younger [women] are more physically attractive – indeed in many ways beauty and youth are inextricable.

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How to tell if you're actually attractive?

Top 6 Signs You're Attractive

  • People light up when you enter a room.
  • They make prolonged eye contact with you.
  • They compliment your smile.
  • They're always willing to help you.
  • They act nervous or awkward around you.
  • They want to be near you and pick you out of a crowd.

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Do we see ourselves as uglier or prettier?

According to psychology, when we see ourselves in the mirror, we tend to think of ourselves as prettier, than how we actually look to others, in real life. That's the perception of the mirror, vs what you look like to others in real life.

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What is the 777 rule of dating?

The 777 dating rule is a relationship strategy for intentional connection, suggesting couples schedule a date every 7 days, an overnight getaway every 7 weeks, and a longer vacation every 7 months to keep the spark alive, build memories, and prevent disconnection from daily life. It's about consistent, quality time, not necessarily grand gestures, and focuses on undivided attention to strengthen intimacy and partnership over time. 

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What stage do most couples break up?

survived the dreaded two-year mark (i.e. the most common time period when couples break up), then you're destined to be together forever… right? Unfortunately, the two-year mark isn't the only relationship test to pass, nor do you get to relax before the seven-year itch.

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What are the 5 C's of dating?

Take them in the spirit in which they are offered—as a a lens to think about your own relationship. This blog is part of a series on the five Cs: Chemistry, Commonality, Constructive Conflict, Courtesy and Commitment.

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What is the strongest indicator of attraction?

The strongest indicator of attraction is often considered sustained, meaningful eye contact, especially when combined with other cues like leaning in or pupil dilation, as it signals interest and intimacy, but the most reliable confirmation is always direct communication like verbal consent or expressing interest. Other key indicators include positive body language (leaning in, mirroring), increased physical closeness, frequent smiling, and a strong desire to learn about the other person, with biological factors like scent also playing a role.
 

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How do I know if I'm gynosexual?

Beyond the flag, you can recognize or identify as gynosexual if you feel a very special attraction to the following:

  • Everything that is or represents the feminine.
  • A person who is not a woman but who dresses or performs as such or by an individual who strongly possesses feminine traits.

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What are the five things that make a person attractive?

These five qualities—confidence, emotional intelligence, curiosity, humor, and passion—all stem from authentic self-development. As you nurture these qualities, you'll naturally attract people who appreciate the real you. And isn't that exactly what you're looking for?

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What makes a woman insanely attractive?

Remember, these qualities – emotional intelligence, independence, playfulness, authenticity, being a good listener, optimism, resilience, and kindness – are not just attractive, they also contribute to healthier, happier relationships.

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What are subtle signs of attractiveness?

4 Tell-Tale Signs That Others Might Find You Attractive, By A...

  • People Perk Up When You Speak, Even Before They See You. ...
  • You Look Way Better In Person Than In Photos. ...
  • You Have A 'Signature Scent' ...
  • You Get Compliments From People Who Aren't Romantically Interested In You.

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Does weight affect how attractive I am?

There was a peaked relationship between body fat percentage (BF%) and attractiveness and a similar relationship with BMI giving an optimal range of 23 to 27, close to the predicted BMI that maximizes fitness.

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What are signs of genuine attraction?

How do you know if it's just an attraction?

  • Maintaining prolonged eye contact.
  • Seeking physical contact.
  • Using open body language.
  • Looking for ways to spend time with the other person.
  • Imitating the other person's behaviors.

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At what age do females start looking older?

According to the doctors on the show, your 40s is when you really start to see major changes in the firmness of your skin. You're dealing with loss of volume and elasticity (leading to skin that appears saggy), as well as more pronounced wrinkles and sun damage, which may lead to conditions like melasma.

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What age does women's body change the most?

Exactly when and to what degree these things become apparent varies from person to person, but these are universal changes, especially past the age of 40 and nearing menopause. Around menopause, women start storing fat more like men.

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What is the 3 6 9 rule in dating?

But it does provide some rough guidelines as to how soon may be too soon to make long-term commitments and how long may be too long to stick with a relationship. Each of the three numbers—three, six, and nine—stands for the month that a different common stage of a relationship tends to end.

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What is fraysexuality?

Fraysexual means experiencing strong sexual attraction to strangers or people you don't know well, with that attraction fading as emotional intimacy or familiarity grows; it's essentially the opposite of demisexuality, where connection comes before attraction, and it's considered part of the asexual spectrum, sometimes called ignotasexuality. Fraysexual individuals often prefer emotionless or low-emotion sexual encounters and find their desire decreases with emotional closeness, though they can still form romantic bonds.
 

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Can you sense if someone finds you attractive?

Prolonged Eye Contact

They might make constant eye contact or look away when you catch them, only to look back again when you glance away. Even when they do know you, you might often find them looking at you, sometimes to the point of getting lost in their thoughts, and you'd have to pull them back.

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