Season of Love, Love Science

I've been reading Reader's Digest February 2007 Issue and I must say, its very interesting.  Here's a summary of what I read.

 12 Scientifically Proven Ways to Find your Perfect Partner

(notice the title says scientific, yes… scientific)

1. Like Seeks Like

"We prefer mates with similar backgrounds, interests, values and beliefs because they validate our own." Thats the sentence the struck me there. Ever wonder why, as you grow as a couple, people keep saying "Alam nyo, parang magkamukha na kayo. (Did you know? You too seem to look alike.)".

 2. Declare Your Desire

According to socio-psychologist Dr. Arthur Aron, the simple realization the someone fancies you is a major turn-on. My guess is thats only true for most cases, not all. Another thing that struck me was: "We warm to those who flatter and are nice to us." Hence the term "bolero", whats weird though is, women like to this sometimes. They also know when you're being sincere or just plain lying about it. The whole point of number 2 is the quiet type doesn't cut it for girls. I remember Jessica Alba playing Sue Storm said, "Women want to be wanted." Cheers to that. =j 

3. The Eyes Have It

"It's been shown that the longer a pair of prospective partners lock eyes upon meeting, the more they like what they see." The article also shows that it helps if you have dilated pupils, there was an experiment verifying this, by showing 2 identical pictures of one of each sex, the only difference between them was their pupils. When test subjects were asked which they thought was prettier/more handsome,the dilated pupils got twice the number of hits than the other. Finally, the article stated: "Enlarged pupils signal intense arousal." Hmm…. exciting.

4. Body Language

"According to Allan Pease, author of The Definitive Guide to Body Language, what really turns men on is female 'submission' gestures, which include exposing vulnerable areas such as wrists or neck as well as the leg twine. Men typically make themselves look more dominant by taking up space and engaging in 'crotch display'."

Now it gets a bit steamy. I find myself agreeing to this, why? Well, I find it a turn-on whenever a lady fixes her hair, when she raises both her arms towards the back of her head to fix her hair. I don't know why, I just do. I can't stop it even if I wanted to. I also find it cute when a lady plays with her hair during conversation. I find it amazing looking for these non-verbal cues, sometimes its just a pain to decipher them. =j

5. Be Beautiful

"According to evolutionary social theorists, we value those attributes the improve the chances of successful reproduction, which is why men prefer younger women with long, shiny hair and hip measurements a third larger than their waists (all markers of youth, health and fertility), while women prefer taller, older men because they're most likely to have the most resources to invest in offspring."

That was plainly biological in my opinion. I do not agree to this completely, because for me you'd have to look human at least. You don't have to be as beautiful as Angel Locsin or Donita Rose, you just have to look presentable. 

6. Home is Where It's At

"Proximity rules. Being situated close to your potential love object ensures repeated exposure, beneficial because the more we see someone, the more we like them."

Well well, there are some long shots though… but they rarely workout, or is very hard to workout. As for me, I still believe that you should be there when she needs you, that doesn't mean all the time because she won't need you all the time, she's a big girl now as much as you're a big boy.

7. Avoid Comparisons

'Nuff said. I bet you're wondering why… well according to Reader's Digest:

"There is a phenomenon called the contrast effect, whereby our perception of relative differences is distorted according to the order in which things are viewed. For example, if you look at a dark object after a light one, it will appear much darker than if you'd looked at it first or by itself."

So when you look at FHM Covergirls, Angel Locsin, or Donita Rose, then have a date with someone, you're natural comparison would be you're date sucks compared to them. So before going on a date, look at something less nice. =P

8.  Love at First Fright

"The more aroused we are in the presence of a potential partner, the more attractive we're likely to find them."

I think the more appropriate word is excited, rather than aroused. Moving on..

"This effect - known as excitation transfer - is a misattribution of arousal; regardless of the cause of our thumping heart, if we ascribe it to the person we're with, we feel attracted to her or him."

Basically go on a roller coaster ride with your date, if she feels excited, she'll attribute that excitement to you. =j

9. Naming Game

Its all in a name. According to the article, names can have negative attributes associated with them. And if you share a first name with a well-known person, you're considered to share their traits. Well tough luck for me, I don't know anyone famous whose name is Manfred. =(

10. Beer Goggles

"Candy is dandy but liquor is quicker. Studies have shown that the closer to closing time is of the pub, the more the opposite sex seems attractive. This doesn't mean you're too drunk to notice someone has two heads; just as that as time available to find a mate runs out, whoever's still around starts to look good." 

I don't know anything about this as I've never done this before so… I guess that quote will have to do.

11. Keep Them Happy

"The better we feel, the more we like whomever we're with, so if your date isn't in a good mood, cheer them up as fast as you can or you haven't a hope. And avoid taking them to stressful places. The resulting anxiety will be forever associated with you."

Well as far as I know, I like to keep my potential partners happy. Whatever it takes baby! =D

12. Choose Your Words

"Research shows that ads placed by women emphasize their appearance, those by men their resources; and the older the woman admits to being the fewer replies she'll receive, while the opposite applies to men."

Well that explains the billions and billions of money spent on beauty products and how men go broke spending for their women… hehehe *peace*.

"People who are described as 'warm' are believed to be happy, sociable, wise and popular."

Hmm… so what does hot mean? =j

Well that ends this long post. For more information you can try and look for the article in: http://www.rdasia.com/