Dopamine (where we get the word “dope”) is a “feel-good” neurotransmitter responsible for rewards and motivation, among other things. When you’re around a person you’re attracted to, dopamine is released into your brain, making you enjoy the time you spend together and want more of it. [1] X Research source Norepinephrine, sometimes known as noradrenaline (but not the same as adrenaline)[2] X Research source is responsible for sending messages to your central nervous system. It helps decide what is most important to focus on at any given moment. When you lose track of time and end up spending 5 hours on a date with someone you’re into, norepinephrine has decided that the woman you love is more important than any of the other information around you. [3] X Research source Serotonin regulates a host of functions, including mood, sleep, body temperature, and sexual desire. [4] X Research source When your skin starts to tingle around that special someone, it’s because serotonin has dropped your body temperature, making your skin slightly more conductive of electricity. Pretty magical stuff. Humans may also emit pheromones like other animals do, although scientists aren’t exactly sure if they work the same way. You can’t consciously smell pheromones, but your body picks up on others’, deciding what it thinks is attractive and what isn’t. [5] X Research source
Research has even shown that taking hormonal contraceptives can change a woman’s “type” at certain points during the month. [7] X Research source Biochemistry: it’s some wacky stuff.
I’m available I’m approachable and open I’m interested I’m fertile
“Open” body language includes relaxed, uncrossed arms and legs and looking upward from time to time. “Closed” body language includes crossed arms or legs, body tension, and keeping your focus on something like your phone. The direction of her feet may also tell you something. If they’re pointed toward you, she is likely feeling into the interaction. If she’s holding something between you, such as a purse or bookbag, this could be a sign she’s trying to signal distance. If she catches your eye, smiles, and moves the bookbag out of the chair across from her, it’s a good bet she’s signaling “I’m available. ”[11] X Research source
Make eye contact with her, and maintain it for 4-5 seconds. Give her a smile. If she returns your gaze and smiles back, you may be in luck. [13] X Trustworthy Source Michigan State University Extension Extension program of Michigan State University focused on community outreach, education, and engagement Go to source Eye contact while you’re talking with someone signals interest and engagement. If she’s looking at you about 70% of the time while you’re talking and about 50% of the time while she’s talking, it’s a good sign that she’s interested in the interaction. (You can signal your interest by following the same ratios. )[14] X Trustworthy Source Michigan State University Extension Extension program of Michigan State University focused on community outreach, education, and engagement Go to source When we’re aroused (through stress, sexual desire, what have you) our pupils dilate. If her pupils look dilated, she may be excited to see you. [15] X Research source
Genuine, or duchenne, smiles, use the muscles around the eyes as well as around the mouth. [17] X Trustworthy Source Association for Psychological Science Nonprofit organization devoted promoting trustworthy research and education in the psychological sciences Go to source Fake smiles tend to only use the muscles around the mouth (although some people are very good at faking). If she isn’t smiling with her eyes, she may be feeling uncomfortable or trying to appease you.
Flushing or blushing. When we’re aroused, blood rushes to our cheeks. (This is one reason why some women wear blush. ) People may also flush when they’re nervous or embarrassed, though, so don’t rely on this as your only cue. Plumper, redder lips. That blood doesn’t only rush to our cheeks. It also goes to the lips, which can appear fuller and redder as they fill with blood. (Hence, why some women wear lipstick. ) Licking the lips is also a good sign that the other person is attracted to you. [19] X Research source
If you’re already interacting with the woman of your dreams, lean in a little closer or tilt your head. Not only do these signal that you’re interested in the interaction, they can also send those chemical love-messengers heading her way. [22] X Research source
Direct: These are honest, no-nonsense, get straight to the point openers. For example, “Hi, you’re pretty cute. Can I buy you a drink?” or “I’m kind of shy, but I’d love to get to know you. ” In general, men tend to prefer getting these from potential romantic partners. Innocuous: These start a conversation, but don’t go directly in for the goal. For example, “What coffee would you recommend?” or “There’s an empty chair at my table, would you like to sit here?” In general, women tend to prefer getting these from potential romantic partners. Cute/flippant: These involve humor, but they can also be cheesy or even mean-spirited. These are the typical “pickup line,” like “Did it hurt when you fell from heaven?” or “You know what would look great on you? Me. ” In general, both men and women rank these as the least preferred option to receive from a potential romantic partner. Your relationship strategy will also play a role in choosing an opener. Studies suggest that people going for something long-term will more likely use an honest and supportive gambit, while people going for something short-term will more likely use manipulation or dishonesty. If it’s love you’re looking for, go for honest and supportive every time. [24] X Research source
Take care of yourself. Eat healthy, exercise, and dress in clothes that express something about you. You don’t have to be a fashion model or a superstar athlete, but keeping yourself neat, clean, and groomed will show off your physical health, which humans have evolved to find innately attractive. [25] X Research source Studies show that women value social traits, such as compassion and friendliness, as highly (or even more) than physical attractiveness. [26] X Research source Do something that shows you care about other people. Volunteer at your local food bank, give blood, bail a friend out of a sticky situation, organize a charity auction. Show her that there’s more to you than meets the eye. She’ll be impressed that you give back and curious about what else you have to offer. Show her your funny side. Research shows that both men and women rank a sense of humor as one of the most attractive qualities in a potential partner. [27] X Research source Joke around, make others laugh – just don’t belittle or use mean or bitter humor, because that’s a surefire way to kill the mood instantly. [28] X Research source Wilbur, C. J. , & Campbell, L. (2011). Humor in romantic contexts: Do men participate and women evaluate? Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 37, 918-929. A little playfulness is also likely to benefit you. Excel at something you’re good at, preferably in her company. What do you do well? It could be anything from tennis, rock climbing, or football, to humor, math, or debate. Whatever it is, stand out for excellence in that area. Signal with your own body language. Women tend to be better at interpreting body language than men are, which can be good for you if you know how to use it. [29] X Trustworthy Source PubMed Central Journal archive from the U. S. National Institutes of Health Go to source Things like making your body a little bigger, squaring your shoulders when you stand, and playfully bumping or elbowing your guy friends if you’re all hanging out with her can help signal that you’re trying to get her attention. [30] X Research source [31] X Research source Put yourself out there. Remember: fortune favors the brave. If you’re stuck in your apartment constantly, you’re probably not using your time in the best way. And if you don’t hit a challenge at least some of the time, you might never see results.
True self-confidence comes from within. It’s knowing who you are, accepting who you are, and being confident that you’re pretty great at being you. You don’t need validation from others to make you feel good about yourself. When you’re confident in yourself, you inspire that confidence in others. [34] X Research source Cockiness happens when you base your self-esteem on external sources, like compliments or achievements. It often comes from a place of insecurity. You may feel like you need to put others down to feel better about yourself, or like everything is a competition between you and the rest of the world. [35] X Research source It’s fine to accept compliments and praise, especially if you can acknowledge the roles others played in your success or achievement. For example, if you’re a star athlete, you probably still have a great team behind you. When you win the big game, accept praise for your good performance, but remember to extend that praise to your teammates, too. That type of behavior shows true self-confidence, not cockiness.
If you’re in love with one girl, it’s OK to focus on winning her heart. When love hits us, it’s like a ton of bricks, and we often feel helpless. That’s natural. If, however, you want to find love in general, try socializing with several different women. You’ll increase your chances of finding someone you genuinely bond with, and rejection from one won’t seem so bad if you have the possibility of another waiting in the wings. There are several other benefits to this strategy: You’ll have a better idea of what you want. We often don’t know what we want until we see it. Put yourself out there and chances are you’ll find a woman you naturally gel with, instead of forcing it with someone you thought you knew. Socializing with several women is not the same as being a player. If you want to find love, date around, but only romantically involve yourself with one woman at a time. Don’t go into a relationship hoping to exploit or manipulate.
You’ll have a better idea of what you want. We often don’t know what we want until we see it. Put yourself out there and chances are you’ll find a woman you naturally gel with, instead of forcing it with someone you thought you knew. Socializing with several women is not the same as being a player. If you want to find love, date around, but only romantically involve yourself with one woman at a time. Don’t go into a relationship hoping to exploit or manipulate.
People love talking about themselves. This is just the way things are. Don’t forget to engage in conversation and give her information about yourself, but get her engaged in something she likes talking about and you’ll find it’s a lot easier going. One way to do this is to ask great questions. Ask about her passions (“What do you love to do?”), her inspirations (“What makes you tick?”), and her goals (“What do you want to achieve?”), for example. Questions that ask her about her future may help her envision you in it. Questions about what’s going on right now tend to be more surface-level. [36] X Research source Social psychologist Arthur Aron has a list of 36 open-ended, creative questions you can ask to prompt getting to know a person better. [37] X Research source Now is not the time to harsh on your ex-girlfriends or trash your boss. This level of negativity could make the woman uncomfortable. If you’re saying bad things about other people to her, she’ll also have to wonder if you’d do the same about her with someone else. Stick to positive topics.
If she gives you her number, perfect, but don’t beg for it. Call her when you get her number, but not too much. Some days, give her a chance to call you![38] X Research source Don’t spill your whole life story at once. [39] X Expert Source Imad JbaraDating Coach Expert Interview. 5 November 2019. If you really like this woman, it could be tempting to give her the “hard sell” on why you’re the man for her. Take it slowly. Leaving a little mystery to yourself gives her things to ask you about, and doesn’t make you seem desperate or – even worse – like you don’t understand boundaries. [40] X Research source
Compliment her skills and abilities first and foremost. She was born with her looks, but she worked for her smarts and her talents. Compliment her when her wonderful personality shines through. If you want to compliment her looks, try to make things more personal than the generic “Wow, you have pretty eyes. ” For example, you could say “Your eyes are such an unusual shade of blue. Do your parents also have blue eyes?”[42] X Expert Source Imad JbaraDating Coach Expert Interview. 5 November 2019. Noting that you’re paying attention to her also works. For example: “Did you get a haircut? Short hair looks so good on you. ” Consider complimenting things about her that you find unique and interesting. Most women have heard the “You have a great smile” line a hundred times. Look for things that show you’re really engaged with her as a person. For example: “It’s so easy talking to you. I feel like I could talk to you all day long. ” “I like the way you think. ” It took a lot of courage for you to speak up like that. ”
Smile and maintain good eye contact. A woman can tell a lot about how interested you are just by looking at your eyes. Likewise, a smile is just as important. Smile so that you project happiness, and have good eye contact so that you project confidence. Mimic her body language. You’re not trying to be an exact mirror here. Instead, if she’s relaxed and open, be that way too. If she makes a lot of hand gestures when she’s talking, incorporate a few more into your conversation. Develop inside jokes or learn to playfully tease. Inside jokes are a great way to flirt and bond at the same time. They are conspiratorial, meaning that you both feel you are in on something together, and it’s just you. Make an inside joke out of pretty much anything that you two experience together. [45] X Trustworthy Source HelpGuide Nonprofit organization dedicated to providing free, evidence-based mental health and wellness resources. Go to source When you playfully tease, make sure she knows you’re teasing. Wink at her to communicate your sarcasm, or tell her that you’re joking. Preferably, tease her about something she does really well so that she won’t have to guess whether you’re being serious or not.
Obviously, you should only do this if you’re already confident that she enjoys spending time with you. Don’t grab for a girl the first time you meet her, and avoid touching any personal areas unless you are clearly invited. If she doesn’t appear to enjoy or react well to your touch, don’t try it again. Respect her boundaries at all times, even if/when you don’t understand them.
When you ask her, keep it casual but don’t be unclear. You might end up in the dreaded “friend zone,” and it’s often difficult to move from friendship to romance. The best way to avoid this is to be upfront about your interests. You don’t have to overwhelm her by immediately declaring your love (in fact, don’t do that), but saying something casual like, “I’ve really been enjoying hanging out with you. What would you say to a “real” date? My treat!” can help let her know that you’re interested in becoming more than friends without sounding like you’re proposing marriage. [49] X Research source Do something that’s exciting. An exciting date — such as a haunted house, a theme park with rollercoasters, or a sports event — helps release a powerful hormone (called oxytocin) that’s responsible for feelings of bonding and togetherness. [50] X Research source If it’s the right moment, go in for a kiss. If you feel like she’s a little hesitant, it’s best to keep the kiss for the second or third date. Keep the kiss short and sweet, and whatever you do, don’t try to shove your tongue down her throat.
Restate and clarify. Don’t assume that you understand what she’s saying. Instead, ask for clarification when you need it: “I’m not sure I understood you correctly. I heard _____. Is that what you meant?” Then give her the chance to clear things up. Encourage her. Ask little questions like “And then what happened?” or “How did you respond?” “Minimal encouragers,” like nodding, saying “uh-huh,” and “Go on” are also helpful. Summarize the important things. If you’ve had a conversation where you shared a lot of information, summarize it. This shows you paid attention, and gives her the opportunity to clear anything up. For example: “Okay, so what I heard was that tomorrow is going to be a horrible day for you and you don’t want to be stressed out, so you’d like me to pick you up from work and go see a dumb action movie together. Is that right?”
Ask questions. This is especially helpful if you aren’t sure you understand the situation. For example, she may say she wants advice but really just needs a sympathetic ear. Ask her: “Do you want me to try to help you find a solution, or do you just need someone to vent to? I’m cool with either one. ” Use “I”-statements instead of “you” messages. “You”-statements can sound blaming, and they can make people shut down and feel defensive. For example, saying “You’re always making us late and I hate it” communicates your feelings clearly, but it’s also going to hurt hers and make her avoid talking with you. Try an “I”-statement instead: “I know you need a little extra time to get ready, but I get really stressed out when I’m late to things. How can I help you get the time you need and get us to dinner on time?” Speak honestly and directly. Don’t beat around the bush and don’t be passive aggressive. Say what you mean, mean what you say, and be kind and respectful all the time. [54] X Research source
A good way to think of this is as staying independent. Healthy relationships allow both people to live their lives and pursue interests on their own, as well as spending time together. If you don’t devote every moment of your day to thinking about her or pursuing her, you’ll be showing her that you’re independent and confident, which are both highly attractive qualities. [56] X Trustworthy Source HelpGuide Nonprofit organization dedicated to providing free, evidence-based mental health and wellness resources. Go to source There’s no need to play mind games. If you want to call her, call. If she calls when you’re genuinely busy, tell her you’ll have to call her back later. You don’t have to wait a certain number of minutes between texts or a certain number of days between phone calls. Just live your life, and make her a nice part of it.
Don’t get into it just for sex. This will make you an untrustworthy guy in her book. Don’t pressure her into doing things that she’s not comfortable doing — it’ll drive her further away. If you have to back out on something, give her an honest explanation. She’s less likely to feel let down if you tell her what happened and communicate that you’re really disappointed about having to miss out. And don’t make a habit of flaking.
The five love languages are “Words of Affirmation,” “Acts of Service,” “Receiving Gifts,” “Quality Time,” and “Physical Touch. ” “Words of Affirmation” include compliments, encouragement, or expressions of your feelings. “Acts of Service” include things like doing chores or running errands for the other person to show you care. “Receiving Gifts” is pretty obvious: gifts, cards, and tangible expression of affection. “Quality Time” is uninterrupted time with your partner without distractions. “Physical Touch” includes any demonstration of physical affection, including hugging, kissing, or sex. Chapman’s website has a quiz you can take. You can also ask her friends and observe her reactions to determine what her primary love language could be. (Alternatively, you could just ask her to take the quiz too, but you might not feel ready to spring the word “love. ”)[60] X Research source Look at how she treats you. People usually default to using the love language they connect with for other people. Thus, if her primary love language is “Receiving Gifts,” she may surprise you with small tokens from time to time, such as a little gift or a card. Notice what she seems to emphasize in her demonstrations, and return them in kind.
Dress nice, show manners, and be respectful of her friends and family. Be yourself around them. That can be hard, especially with all the pressure once you finally meet her parents, but it’s important that you be genuine, honest, and yourself. She’ll pick up if you’re different around her loved ones than you are around her, and family are notoriously good at detecting behavior that isn’t genuine. Stay easygoing, interested, and kind. If her friends gently tease or joke about you, take it like a man and chuckle. When the situation presents itself, ask her friends questions about their lives and be genuinely interested in them. Do nice things for her friends, such as setting them up with a guy friend or boosting their self-esteem.
Don’t be afraid to say sorry or admit fault. When you make a mistake, acknowledge it without blaming anyone else for your actions or feelings. For example: “I’m really sorry I hurt your feelings. I know you were upset when I forgot our date. I really do care about you, but I’m terrible at remembering things. Next time I’ll put a reminder in my calendar to make sure I don’t miss out on spending time with you again. ”
Make time for each other. You may be busy. You may have tough times. Make time for each other, even if you’re tired or your feelings are hurt. Don’t let things sink to a level of name-calling, resentment, or contempt. Pick a hobby or activity to pursue together. Working toward a common goal can help you feel more connected and bonded. Turn off the technology. Make some time without cellphones, TV, or computers for just the two of you. It can be easy to end up spending time in the same room without ever feeling like you’re really spending time together. [65] X Research source
