WHY WE'RE ATTRACTED TO THE PEOPLE WE'RE ATTRACTED TO

February, 2015 – Here, according to various studies, are some of the subtle but powerful factors that may help determine who we’re attracted to:
– We fall in love at first “smell.” Pheromones are known to be involved in sexual attraction in animals, and research suggests that they may also play a role for people. In one study, female participants were asked to smell men’s sweaty undershirts. The researchers found that women could smell how symmetrical a man was (* huh?), and using that information, judged his attractiveness.
– Men can detect a fertile woman. Research from the University of Texas at Austin investigated this phenomenon by asking a group of women to wear T-shirts to sleep during both fertile and infertile points in their cycles, and then asked men to smell the T-shirts and assess (* T-shirts and asses?) which ones they found most pleasing. Overwhelmingly, the judged the shirts worn by the fertile women to be more “pleasant” and “sexy.”
– A woman’s face may also appear more attractive to men during the most fertile point in her cycle. A British study conducted in 2004 asked a group of 125 men to look at two pictures of the same woman, at times of high and low fertility in her cycle, and to assess which photo was more attractive. Nearly 60 percent of the men rated the photos of the women’s faces at peak fertility to be more attractive.
– The sound of a woman’s voice also plays into a man’s judgments of a woman’s attractiveness. A recent study found that a woman’s voice sounds most seductive at the most fertile point in her menstrual cycle – and that hearing a woman’s peak-fertility voice can literally make a man’s skin tingle.
– One study from the Face Research Laboratory found that women living in poorer environments may have a greater preference for masculine men, but women in more developed areas prefer more feminine-looking men.
– While individuals and cultures have their own standards for what they consider attractive, there are some fairly universal qualities that we all look for, including a clear complexion, symmetrical faces, wide hips (for women), and a general appearance of health and cleanliness.
* Well, all of us in this room are screwed.
* The main takeaway here is, if you find her attractive, use a condom – she’s fertile.
* Also, these scientists are a little too into used t-shirts.
* I see nothing in here about an expensive car. Or even smelling like an expensive car.
* It’s also important to find a woman who’s your same dress size. Wait, did I say that?
* So the 20-page questionaire on dating websites is all crap, then.
* Anyone else feel like they’re over-thinking this a little?
* Okay, how about not thinking about it enough?
* Let me tell you my theory: You’re most attracted to people who will add chaos to your life, because that’s what rules the universe: chaos.
* Plus, the crazy ones are just more fun.
* I think it’s one of those deals where a little mystery is good.
* If we fall in love at first smell then how do you explain computer porn?