Ever caught yourself noticing the way someone sinks into a chair, the little bounce in their walk, or even their scent that lingers just a second too long?
Being attractive isn’t just about having a pretty face, according to science.
People often say that having chiseled features, a sculpted jawline, or a picture-perfect smile is all it takes to attract others but that's not the entire story. While physical appearance might spark initial interest, there are more than a few subtle features that will help woo others.
Scientists used to think physical attraction was all about facial symmetry, average-looking features, and subtle signs of ‘biological fitness’, which are basically traits that suggest someone has good genes.
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As it turns out, charm is a whole vibe and not just a look.
A new study in the British Journal of Psychology shows that attraction goes far beyond physical features. It’s shaped by shared traits, individual preferences, and even subtle cues like someone’s scent, voice, or the way they move.
To dig deeper, researchers started looking beyond the surface and found that things like someone’s voice, the way they move, and even how they smell can seriously sway how attractive we find them.
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An international team of researchers got 61 volunteers to share all kinds of stuff such as photos, videos, voice recordings, and even body odor samples. How did they do this, you ask? Well the participants wore sweat pads while working out... all in the name of science, of course.
By separating each sense like this, the researchers could see which ones really pack a punch, and where they overlap.
Turns out, a person’s voice is the biggest giveaway when it comes to attraction.
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On the flip side, body odor didn’t have a strong link with how someone looked.
The takeaway? Even if you’re not feeling like a total knockout, there’s plenty about you that can still totally draw people in, such as the way you move, or your scent.
So, at the end of the day, those little non-verbal vibes are super influential when we become attracted to someone. How they move and even smells paired with their looks helps to make attraction click, whether it’s a crush across the room or something more.
The study concludes that attraction goes beyond just looks and includes a mix of qualities that foster meaningful connections. “Together, an agent's non-verbal qualities and their perceived attractiveness promote both opposite- and same-sex interactions that promise positive interaction outcomes,” the researchers said.
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Even if you’re not feeling like your absolute best, just the way you show up, the way you walk, carry yourself, and all those little things you think are barely noticed, could be quietly catching someone’s eye.
How cool is that to think about?
Topics: Sex and Relationships, Science
Gregory Robinson