Attraction, Evolved

On the evolutionary psychology of human attraction

Robert Burriss Ph.D.

Sexual Desire and Odor

Is you sex life impacted by a poor sense of smell?

How Much Should You Spend on an Engagement Ring?

Psychologists investigate the link between beauty and wedding-ring expenditure.

Pregnancy and Desire

How the type of man a woman finds most attractive changes during pregnancy

Why Do Straight People Hook Up With Same-Gender Partners?

Researchers reveal the six types of people who consider themselves straight but have flings with same-gender partners.

Why Many People Condemn Couples with a Major Age Difference

Many of us often find a relationship with a big age difference to be off-putting, even when that relationship doesn't involve us! New research seeks to find out why.

Is a Dirty Joke a Good Pickup Line?

Women often say they are seeking a man with a good sense of humor, but does it matter what kind of humor?

Dating Apps and Mating Strategies

Are "hook-up" apps more appealing to men than women? Scientists have investigated whether gender or a desire for short-term relationships best explains our online dating behavior.

Do Hormones Really Influence What Women Find Attractive?

Many psychologists have found that their much-hyped research findings are difficult to repeat. Let's look at some recent examples from the psychology of attraction.

What to Wear on a First Date?

Psychologists have analyzed the clothing color choices of men and women on a reality TV dating show.

The Danger of a Wandering Eye

Are people who are distracted by attractive others more likely to cheat?

Loving the One You’re With

Do we prefer to stick with a partner or look for someone new?

Why Do People End Relationships by Ghosting?

What is behind the modern phenomenon of disappearing from a loved one's life without a trace, aka "ghosting"?

Is Personality Skin Deep?

Romantic partners tend to look alike, but do we only match our lovers in attractiveness? New research suggests that couples may also look like they share personality traits.

Deceptive Affection: Expressing More Love Than We Feel

Why do our partners sometimes show affection when they don't feel it?

Why Some Men Respond to Rejection with Aggression

Are men who hold traditional ideas of masculine honor more likely to respond aggressively to romantic rejection?

Impulsivity and Sexual Coercion

Sexual assault and other forms of sexual coercion may be associated with impulsivity. But are all impulsive men prone to coerce?

Saying No to Sex

Students are taught to "just say no" to unwanted sex. But how do young people really navigate consent?

Mating and Memory for Faces

Science reveals one way to never forget a face: judge everyone on their attractiveness.

Profiling Politicians’ Personalities: Are Experts Biased?

New research suggests that how we perceive the personality of our leaders is colored by our own politics.

Bullying and the Mating Motive

Is adolescent bullying motivated by sexual desire?

Empathizing With a Partner’s Emotional Ups and Downs

New research suggests that our relationship quality is better if we empathize with our partner’s negative and positive feelings.

Is Jealousy a Sign That Your Partner Will Be Unfaithful?

Why are some people more jealous than others? New research suggests that many of us have distinctly Freudian motives.

Should I Stay or Should I Go?

How do we decide to stay with or leave a partner we discover is cheating on us?

Our Attraction to Partners Who Look Like Our Parents

Do we tend to prefer partners who resemble our parents?

What Does Makeup Say About You?

What do we assume about a woman wearing makeup? And do our preconceptions have any basis in fact?

Baby Photos Increase Desire for Marriage

Is your social media feed full of other people's babies? New research suggests that looking at baby photos can change our attitudes to marriage.

Why Certain Women Prefer a Man Who's More Feminine

Do women who are attracted to men prefer a macho, masculine appearance? Or is a gentler, more feminine face the ideal?

What Makes a Healthy Face?

Psychologists who study facial appearance judgments have been unsure what makes a face appear healthier: shape or skin color. Until now...

Why the Eyes Are So Central to Human Attraction

The limbal ring is a part of the eye most of us never consciously notice. But this darkened part of the iris may signal health and beauty.

Intelligent Men More Likely to Marry and Stay Married

Intelligent men are more likely to be married. But is this because a smart man is more alluring, or because brainboxes happen to possess other desirable qualities?

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