Two dating apps suggest the most attractive jobs for both a man and woman.
The behaviour is particularly attractive to women, although men also rate it highly.
How people signal attraction with their voice.
How people signal attraction with their voice.
People signal attraction to each other by lowering their voice pitch.
For both men and women, a lower voice pitch signalled attraction.
Dr Susan Hughes, the study’s first author, said:
“We found that both sexes used a lower-pitch voice and showed a higher level of physiological arousal when speaking to a more attractive opposite-sex target.”
For the study, 48 people were asked to leave a scripted voice message while viewing a picture of an invented person.
When they looked at a picture of a more attractive person, people used a lower pitched voice for the message.
Men were expected to lower their tone to signal attraction, which is what they did.
Dr Hughes expected that women would raise their voices to seem more attractive, but the opposite happened.
Dr Hughes said:
“There appears to be a common stereotype in our culture that deems a sexy female voice as one that sounds husky, breathy, and lower-pitched.
This suggests that the motivation to display a sexy/seductive female voice may conflict with the motivation to sound more feminine.”
It could be that women learn to lower their tone as it is an accepted signal, Dr Hughes said:
“When a woman naturally lowers her voice, it may be perceived as her attempt to sound more seductive or attractive, and therefore serves as a signal of her romantic interest.”
The research also found that the change in voice tone was large enough that people could spot it.
Dr Hughes said:
“These findings may have implications for the important role voice plays in mate selection and attraction.
If people can perceive changes in others’ voices when speaking to attractive individuals, this perception may be adaptive for identifying interested potential mates, detecting partner interest in others, and possible detection of partner infidelity.”
The study was published in the Journal of Nonverbal Behavior (Hughes et al., 2010).
The study showed 128 young women personality profiles of various men.
The study showed 128 young women personality profiles of various men.
Extraverts with stable, or non-neurotic personalities are particularly attractive.
However, both of these personality traits also help explain the attraction of the ‘bad boy’ to women, who also tends to be laid-back and extraverted.
Narcissist and psychopaths are seen as both extraverted and having stable, non-neurotic personalities, the study found.
Both of these contribute to the attractiveness of men with ‘dark triad’ personalities.
The ‘dark triad’ of personality factors includes narcissism and psychopathy, along with Machiavellianism.
The study’s authors write:
“Women, particularly in respect of short-term mating, may be attracted to ‘bad boys’, possessing confidence, hard-headedness and an inclination to risk-take – all accurate descriptors of Dark Triad [DT] men; all attractive to women.”
Another explanation for the attractiveness of bad boys could be their superficial charm, the authors write:
“Women may be responding to DT men’s ability to ‘sell themselves’; a useful tactic in a co-evolutionary ‘arms race’ in which men convince women to pursue the former’s preferred sexual strategy.
This ability may derive from a ‘used-car dealer’ ability to charm and manipulate, and DT-associated traits such as assertiveness.
Men with a DT personality are undoubtedly well-placed to successfully implement such a strategy.”
The conclusions come from a study in which 128 young women were shown personality profiles of various men.
One was designed to be high in dark triad personality factors.
The results showed that women saw the ‘bad boy’ as more attractive, when appearance was held constant.
Here is the authors’ quick description of the dark triad personality traits:
“Narcissism is defined by a sense of entitlement, dominance and a grandiose self-view.
Machiavellians are interpersonally duplicitous, insincere and extraverted.
Psychopathy consists of callousness, a lack of empathy, and antisocial, erratic behaviour.”
The study was published in the journal Personality and Individual Differences (Carter et al., 2014).
Trying to sound attractive is easier for women than men.
Trying to sound attractive is easier for women than men.
Speaking slowly makes people sound more intelligent.
A lower tone also makes both sexes sound more attractive.
Women asked to talk in a more attractive way for the study automatically lowered the pitch of their voice and made it sound more breathy — which men find attractive.
While women had no trouble changing their voice to make it sound more sexy, men found it harder.
To sound more attractive, both sexes also speak slower, the authors write:
“…both sexes in our sample slowed their speech in comparison to their normal speech when trying to sound attractive/sexy…
Perhaps the slowing of one’s voice in a mating scenario is an attempt to convey approachability, as decreased speaking rate was found to increase the benevolence ratings of a speaker.”
Women, though, when they listened to men trying to sound attractive, were not convinced.
When women tried to sound sexier, it was more convincing.
Dr Susan Hughes, the study’s first author, said:
“This ability may be due to culture and cuts across cultures and time.
There is a stereotype of what is a sexual voice in our culture — a low, breathy voice.”
The study had people trying to intentionally change their voices to embody different traits.
They tried to sound more sexy, confident, intelligent and dominant.
Dr Hughes said men found it difficult to sound sexy:
“In fact, although not significantly, it got a bit worse when men tried to sound sexy.”
Both sexes, though, had no problem sounding more intelligent and more dominant.
The researchers explained the changes people made:
“…both sexes slowed their speech and women lowered their pitch and had greater vocal hoarseness.
Both sexes raised their pitch and spoke louder to sound dominant and women had less vocal hoarseness.”
Women, though, found it hard to sound more confident.
The reason for the differences could be down to practice, the researchers think.
Men do not really focus on making their voice sound sexier, but women do.
The study was published in Journal of Nonverbal Behavior (Hughes et al., 2014).
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How smiling changes a man’s apparent masculinity.
How smiling changes a man’s apparent masculinity.
Smiling makes men more attractive to women looking for long-term relationships, research finds.
But smiling does not make men look more attractive to women looking for a short-term relationship, as they appear less masculine.
The results come from two experiments in which hundreds of women evaluated pictures of men — some of whom were smiling.
The study’s authors explain:
“Smiling enhanced the male attractiveness for long-term relationships but not for short-term relationships.
The facilitative effect of smiling on the long-term partners was observed for East Asian as well as for European participants.
In addition, smiling faces were rated to be less masculine and more trustworthy and mature than neutral faces.”
So, smiling makes a man’s face look less masculine, but also more trustworthy.
The study’s authors analyse this in terms of evolutionary psychology.
This is the theory that many of our traits have evolved over the millennia to help the race reproduce.
In other words, at some level, some of the things we do when selecting partners (and other things) are so because our genes have programmed us that way.
Evolutionary psychology suggests two types of mating strategies have evolved.
In the long-term strategy, women are ‘programmed’ to look for someone who will help raise the children.
For that you need someone trustworthy — in other words a man who smiles (among other things, of course!).
The short-term strategy cares less about trustworthiness and more about the genes.
More attractive and masculine men have better genes in this context, so the lack of a smile makes them look like a better bet for a short-term relationship.
As the authors explain it:
“…social and cooperative characteristics would be primarily important for long-term partners but not very much for short-term partners because long-term cooperation is necessary for parenting in the former but not in the latter.
Women put more emphasis on social factors such as trustworthiness for the long-term relationship, where paternal investment is expected, in order to minimize the risk of losing commitment from their partner during pregnancy and parenting.”
The study was published in the journal Evolutionary Psychology (Okubo et al., 2018).
Uncover the psychology behind attraction and learn how to be more attractive with these easy, scientifically proven methods.
This article explores practical, science-backed methods to enhance your attractiveness, focusing on both physical and behavioural traits.
Attractiveness is often considered subjective, with opinions varying depending on personal preferences and cultural norms. However, there are universal traits that science suggests can significantly boost one’s allure. These factors extend beyond superficial qualities and touch on behaviours, mindset, and lifestyle choices that influence how others perceive you.
Your physical appearance plays a significant role in attraction, but it’s not just about being conventionally beautiful. Simple adjustments in grooming, posture, and style can dramatically change how others perceive you.
First and foremost, personal grooming is one of the easiest and most effective ways to enhance attractiveness. People tend to notice well-maintained hair, skin, and nails. Cleanliness, in particular, signals good health and self-care, both of which are desirable traits.
How you carry yourself is just as important as how you look. Studies have shown that good posture can significantly impact how others perceive you.
Standing tall with your shoulders back and your chest open not only makes you appear more confident but also enhances your attractiveness. Poor posture, on the other hand, can make you seem insecure and less approachable.
It’s not about following the latest trends, but rather finding clothing that flatters your body type and boosts your confidence. When you wear something you feel comfortable and confident in, it shows. Clothing that fits well and suits your personal style can enhance your overall appearance.
Attractiveness isn’t solely determined by appearance. How you behave and interact with others is equally important, and certain personality traits can make you more appealing.
One of the most universally attractive traits is kindness. People are naturally drawn to individuals who treat others with respect, empathy, and consideration.
Humour is another key trait that can make you more appealing. Laughter is contagious, and people enjoy being around those who can make them smile. A good sense of humour shows that you don’t take life too seriously and that you can create a relaxed, enjoyable atmosphere.
Confidence is an incredibly attractive quality. It doesn’t mean being boastful or arrogant, but having a sense of self-assurance and belief in your abilities. Confident people tend to draw others in because they radiate positivity and trust in themselves.
Your inner health and lifestyle can also play a role in your attractiveness. Physical and mental health directly affect how you feel about yourself, which in turn influences how others perceive you.
Regular physical activity not only helps you maintain a healthy body but also boosts your mood and energy levels. Exercise is known to improve circulation, which gives your skin a healthy glow and increases your overall vitality.
Mental health is just as important as physical health when it comes to attractiveness. A positive mindset, self-esteem, and emotional well-being are crucial for radiating confidence and approachability.
In conclusion, attractiveness is not just about looks; it’s a combination of physical appearance, social behaviours, and inner health. By making conscious efforts to improve your grooming, posture, and style, while also cultivating kindness, empathy, and confidence, you can significantly boost your allure. Taking care of your mental and physical health will not only help you feel better about yourself but will also enhance your appeal to others.
Remember, attraction is not a one-size-fits-all concept. What works for one person might not necessarily work for another. However, by focusing on these universal aspects of attractiveness, you can increase your chances of leaving a lasting positive impression on those around you.
People felt emotionally closer to strangers who did this.
People felt emotionally closer to strangers who did this.
Smiling is one of the best ways to make people instantly like you, research reveals.
However, a smile needs to be real: what psychologists call a ‘Duchenne smile’.
People are highly tuned to the Duchenne smile, which involves upturned lips and crinkly eyes.
Fake smiles are relatively easy to spot and involve only the mouth and not the eyes.
A genuine smile is a strong sign of cooperation and affiliation.
People are generally more aware of positive emotions in other people than negative.
A smile makes people feel emotionally closer to strangers.
Dr Belinda Campos, who led the research, said:
“Our findings provide new evidence of the significance of positive emotions in social settings and highlight the role that positive emotions display in the development of new social connections.
People are highly attuned to the positive emotions of others and can be more attuned to others’ positive emotions than negative emotions.”
For the study, participants watched a video of people interacting and showing both positive and negative emotions.
The results showed that positive emotions are particularly powerful in drawing strangers together.
People felt emotionally closer to strangers who showed positive emotions.
The positive emotion that was particularly attractive was awe.
The study was published in the journal Motivation and Emotion (Campos et al., 2015).
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