When it comes to the science of attraction, many people assume it’s based off what you have. Do you drive an expensive car, live in a fancy apartment, use hair gel made from dolphin tears? Things that amount to living a luxurious life. However, that’s not what attraction is about. Don’t get me wrong, if you have those things you probably attract someone, but it won’t be because of your personality.
The thing is, sexual attraction is very complex and goes beyond materialistic needs. It’s something that doesn’t factor the amount of money you make or where you live.
Scientists have dug deep and continue to research what makes us attracted to one another. What they’ve found so far is that attraction, though a personal preference, is also based on biological and genetic factors. It’s really much more complex than you thought.
# For men, it’s about the eyes
Men are visual. In fact, they have 25% more neurons in their visual cortices. Now, if you think that’s not important, it is. Because of their visual cortices, they’re overall more visual. They notice bright eyes, smiles, shiny hair—the overall physical appearance. Not saying that women don’t notice these things, it’s simply men notice these things more.
# It’s about your childhoodThe next time you look for your boyfriend, girlfriend, husband, or wife, look at a picture of your opposite-sex parent—any similarities? Research found that if we had positive childhood experiences, we are more likely to be attracted to people who share similarities with the opposite-sex parent. The saying, “You marry someone like your dad/mom,” isn’t far off!
# You have a sexy immune systemLadies, it’s not them, it’s their immune system. Not a bad excuse, right? Can you believe it, but women are able to sense major histocompatibility complex molecules *MHC*? These are proteins released into the air which gives an indication of their immune system.
Women tend to be more attracted to men with an opposite immune system as them, that way their children will have the best of both immune systems, making them healthier.
# It’s all pheromones
Sure, she has a great smile and he’s super funny, but really, at the end of the day, it’s all about the pheromones. Both men and women are attracted to pheromones. Women are attracted to testosterone which indicates a man’s strength and fertility. While men are attracted to copulins produced during ovulation.
# Periods have the power
For heterosexual women, who they find attractive varies depending on where they are during their menstrual cycle. If a woman is at the peak of her fertility, she’ll most likely be attracted to more “manlier” men. You know, the guys with muscles, a deep voice, and a beard. Games of Thrones kinda vibes.
# It changes with the seasonsYou’re probably thinking, “Oh my god, there are so many factors to attraction.” You’re right. It even changes with the seasons. You probably think that the summer season is when people are the most attracted to one another, but that’s wrong. It’s actually during the winter time when people, in particular men, are attracted to women physically.
# Symmetry mattersIn both men and women, symmetrical faces in their partners play a subconscious role when choosing who they’re going to be with. Symmetrical faces are a sign of better genetics. Now, no one is actually perfectly symmetrical, so if one eye is slightly bigger than the other, don’t worry.
# Where’s the beard?
Women love a man with a beard. Now, if you don’t have a beard, you’re still attractive. This is more from a biological standpoint as men with beards or stubble are viewed to be healthier, attractive, and likely to be better fathers. The beard represents the protection factor that women look for when finding a partner.
# Physical matches mentalResearch shows that if you find someone to be physically attractive, there’s a higher chance that you automatically pair them with positive personality traits such as intelligence, kindness, honesty, etc. It’s called the “Halo Effect.” And I blame this for many of my poor dating choices.
# Wear redRed really is the go-to color to wear if you want to attract someone. The color red makes men feel more aroused towards a woman. Research showed that the attraction to the color red may be because of social conditioning. However, it goes much deeper than that. Even in other animal species, such as baboons, reproductive parts become red, which attracts a mate.