What Women Find Most Attractive In a Man, According To Psychology

If He Has A Dog..But Not For The Reason You're Thinking Of

There is a reason every other man has a picture of themselves with a dog on a dating profile. However, women's attraction to men with dogs goes beyond how cute the dog is. What really draws them in is that they associate the man's relationship with the animal with nurturing qualities.

An experiment found that dog ownership can increase the long-term attractiveness of men because it signals their ability to take care of another being and long-term relationship commitment. Animals bring out the man's softer protective, and cuddly side.

Altruistic Men Who Do Good

Nice guys don't actually finish last and are preferred by women. Women are more likely to entertain a long-term relationship with altruistic men who are kind and actively like to do good in the world.

Research has shown that women are more attracted to men who are generous and selfless and less likely to show red flags of narcissistic behavior. The more kind the man seems to be, the easier it is for the woman to trust him and open herself up to him.

Good Looks Don't Matter

Good looks really are relative, and although women prefer to date someone they are physically attracted to, their attraction can grow even if it is not immediate. Studies are finding more and more that women choose better-looking guys for flings, but not long-term relationships.

If you think about it, it's harder to trust men who are conventionally attractive and know it because they often tend to chase the high of the attention their looks can bring them. This isn't always the case, but it puts a woman's mind at ease which increases her attraction.

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A Sense Of Humor

A sense of humor is important to women because laughing together becomes a bonding experience. Women associate men who make them laugh with a pleasurable experience, and it activates their reward system and makes them want more of it.

According to In Jeffrey Hall, Ph.D. professor of communication studies, being funny also comes off as a sign of intelligence and of a good brain to women. He explains: "When people are laughing together, they are doing very much what humor is about, which is co-constructing something that’s amusing and light-hearted with each other.”

Risk Takers

On a primal level, women prefer to be with men who take heroic and risky actions. This is because they are used to needing their protection for survival. Men were once the ones hunting for food, making fires, and saving lives even though women have stepped up to these roles today, the desire for men who still have these capacities remained.

A study confirmed that women prefer physical risk-takers, which include athletic men and altruistic acts, over risk-avoiders as long-term mates. Another experiment found that risks reminiscent of the olden hunter-gather days were attractive when undertaken by men.

A Good First Impression

A good first impression can go a long way and really work for a man's favor if done well. In an experiment that simulated first dates, results found that women are more attracted to men who are non-judgemental, observant, and respectful. They want to feel seen, heard and accepted. This is more important to how handsome they perceived the man.

These findings show that everyone stands a chance and that attraction goes back to qualities that can be learned and developed.

In any relationship, always look at how you feel and ask yourself: does this person make you love yourself more? Do you want to grow old with them?

Love is more than just kisses and butterflies, it's much more than that. If you want to know more on what your birth chart reveals about how you love and what you need out of a partner, check out this personalized report based on date of birth.