Tag Archives: attraction

Girl Talk: What Happens When You’re Just Not Into An Amazing Guy?

Justine FieldsOctober 2, 2009 //

Aren’t we single ladies always on the quest to find the perfect man? Just yesterday, I was on that quest. And then I met him. For the sake of this post, let’s call this perfect man John. John is smart, nice, good-looking, Jewish (which matters a lot to my mother), and would spoil me rotten as my boyfriend. He’s not just your average amount of smart; he’s employed at a top web company (one you use on a regular basis) and is destined to be more successful than anyone I know.

He’s not just your average amount of nice; he has mastered chivalry to a T and is so caring that it makes my judgmental soul squirm. And he’s also not just sort of good-looking. Rather, every time one of my friends meets him, their first response is: “Wow, John’s hot.” I can totally tell they’re eying him for themselves. Oh, and did I mention that John’s after me like Tyra on the search for “America’s Next Top Model“?

I should be in heaven, right? But I’m not. Because as perfect as he is, John just doesn’t make me want to rip my clothes off. And I don’t know why. Keep reading »

Mate Poaching: Single Girls Are More Interested In Taken Men

Catherine StrawnAugust 12, 2009 //

Some men skip from relationship to relationship, never once staying single, because they always have a girl waiting in the wings. We tend to hate these guys, but it might be our fault they exist. Social psychologists at Oklahoma State University published a report in the current issue of Journal of Experimental Social Psychology on “mate poaching.” Participants in their study were shown the same picture of a moderately attractive male or female, depending on their gender, and some were told the person was in a relationship. Then, participants indicated how interested they’d be in pursuing a relationship with the person in the photo. Keep reading »

Roadtest: Can Pheromone-Laced Beauty Products Get You Laid?

Kate Torgovnick/Kate-Book.comAugust 3, 2009 //

Have you ever dated someone who smelled really hot? Not good, mind you—but hot, like sex in a sniffable form. There’s a scientific explanation for this phenomenon—it’s caused by pheromones, hormones we all secrete that shout to the opposite sex, “Hey you! I want to get naked now!”

Last week, the New York Times ran a story about how synthetic pheromones are making their way into beauty products. Evidently, products with pheromones have been on shelves for forevs (you’re late to the party once again, Times), but the article claims that more are coming down the pipeline containing the stuff. Paris Hilton’s perfume has ‘em, as does Urban Decay’s Pocket Rocket lip glosses. Dial is even coming out with Men Magnetic Attraction Enhancing Body Wash for dudes, though please lord, don’t let their commercials veer the way of Axe. [New York Times]

Companies want people to believe these products are akin to love potions. (“We don’t claim using our product you’re going to hit a home run,” said Ryan Gaspar, Men Magnetic Attraction’s brand manager. “We say, ‘We’ll get you to first base.’”) Meanwhile, scientists are hugely skeptical because no one’s sure how, exactly, pheromones play into this whole attraction game.

So there was only one thing left to do: try them for myself. Keep reading »

Scientific Study: Do You Have What Men Want?

Examiner.comJune 30, 2009 //

Let’s get science-y. I read this study today about how women can be attracted to a number of different things, physically. (I am assuming this study was done in the US or some western European country). Men, on the other hand, are attracted to mainly the same things and no, the answer is not “vagina” as my boyfriend so helpfully put it when I asked him if he knew what physical characteristics all men liked.

The overall message was that men like women who are thin and seductive. On a related note, there should literally be a book of obvious studies done. Do you know how many come out each year? You’ll see headlines like “Swallowing more than one magnet extremely dangerous” and “It’s confusing to drive in Germany.” Yes, we know this. My problem with this current study is threefold. I am pretty sure that’s a word. Continue reading…
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Do Opposites Really Attract?

DivineCaroline.comMay 3, 2009 //

You like the movies, and he likes TV. You make the bed, and he steals the covers. You take two steps forward, and he takes two steps back. But you come together because opposites attract. Right? Not exactly. Despite the success of Paula Abdul’s catchy 1989 hit, the complexities of human attraction continue to befuddle the biologists, psychologists, and romantics who dare to ask the perennial questions: why, when, and how are we attracted to people so different from ourselves? Keep reading »

10 Signs He’s Just That Into You

Annika HarrisFebruary 26, 2009 //

Sometimes it’s difficult to tell the difference between a guy that is just being nice and one that is totally into you. Sure, we women have a tendency to over-analyze everything (did you see “He’s Just Not That Into You“?!), but that usually happens after we’re dating the guy. So how do you know for sure he’s trying to get with you? Here are 10 signs he’s obviously into you. Keep reading »

Head Over Heels: The Physical Effects of Falling in Love

DivineCaroline.comFebruary 24, 2009 //

I like to think of myself as a logical, control-my-own destiny kind of girl. I think most of my friends see themselves as equally levelheaded. But recently a friend was describing the physical sensations she gets when she meets someone that she really likes — butterflies, sweaty palms, quick heartbeat. No matter how hard she tries to think her way out of this silliness, she can’t. Since we’ve all been there, I figured there had to be more to it, something powerful enough to give even the most strong-willed a run for her sanity. Hoping for some insight into why these feelings take over, I went looking for the science behind lust and love. Why, physiologically speaking, do these things happen, and what are they trying to tell us? Keep reading »

Science Says I’ve Found My Mate

Catherine StrawnJanuary 29, 2009 //

I have a crush on a guy who rides the subway with me. I’ve only seen him a few times, but I just have a feeling we’d hit it off if we ever spoke to one another. According to a study by Rutgers University Professor Helen Fisher, I might know more about this guy than I think I do. She and her team took MRIs of people’s brains while looked at their significant other, and the results showed increased activity in regions including the ventral tegmental area of the brain, which is associated with heightened focus, motivation, energy, and pleasure. “This has evolved from nature — mammals in mating season become attracted when they see another that matches their concept of a perfect mate,” Fisher said. “There’s every reason to think that humans do exactly the same thing.” Sigh. I knew orange-jacket guy and I belong together. [Guardian U.K.] Keep reading »

You’re One With His Odor

Annika HarrisJanuary 6, 2009 //

Most women have heard that body odors play a role in sexual attraction. I mean, why else would we spend money on pheromone-laced oils? Oh, maybe that was just me. Anyway, did you realize that being in love affects our perception and processing of body odors? According to a study performed in Montreal, women who are deeply in love can recognize their partner’s scent, but are unable to recognize the scent of male friends who might be rivals for their affection. Keep reading »

Beer Goggles Last Longer For Women

Wendy AtterberryDecember 24, 2008 //
beer goggles photo

If you’re a woman who drinks even moderately, you may have a harder time judging a guy’s level of hotness than women who never drink. A new study suggests that women who have even as few as five drinks a month “were less able to detect male facial symmetry, a marker of attractiveness and good genes.” Even when sober, researcher Dr. Kirsten Oinonen said, “these women are worse at judging facial symmetry, and therefore may find less attractive men more attractive.” The researchers say the results also suggest alcohol has a long term effect on the brain, reducing its visual perception abilities, but they aren’t sure how long the effects last or whether they are permanent.

I’m not sure how much of a drinker Jennifer Lopez is, but this could explain some things. Can you think of any other beautiful women who just might have beer goggles to blame for their unattractive mates? [Telegraph.co.uk]
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