Science Reveals What Men And Women Look For In A Partner | Men's Health Magazine Australia

Science Has Finally Found Out What Men And Women Look For In A Partner

The first thoughts that surface when you start crushing on someone is: are you good enough? And sometimes trying to impress her means researching what she likes and pretending you share the same interests. Thankfully, science has come to the rescue: a new survey may have figured out what men and women look for in […]

The first thoughts that surface when you start crushing on someone is: are you good enough? And sometimes trying to impress her means researching what she likes and pretending you share the same interests. Thankfully, science has come to the rescue: a new survey may have figured out what men and women look for in a partner. 

In a study conducted by economist Raymond Fisman and colleagues for Columbia University, 392 singletons took part in an experimental speed-dating experience. Participants featured in 10 to 20 four-minute speed dates. They were asked to rate attractiveness, intelligence and ambition of their prospective partners before deciding whether they’d like to see them again.

Interestingly, 43 per cent asked for the contact information of the speed-dater they just met. Unsurprisingly, appearance was a deciding factor – for men more so than women. If you’re a good talker, however, there’s some good news out there: women were attracted to intelligence nearly twice as much as men. 

When rating a man’s intelligence on a scale of one to ten, every point increase translated to a woman wanting to see him again by on average 4.5 per cent. For men, however, that only translated to a 2.3 per cent increase in the chances of him contacting her again. 

Conversely, attractiveness points boosted a man’s desirability by 12 per cent. A woman’s relationship appeal rose slightly higher to14 per cent. 

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However, there’s a kicker. The research also revealed how insecure men are and interestingly, it seems for most men, they didn’t want to be outshone by their female counterpart. While intelligence was an attractive trait, for most males, if their partner’s brain power and ambition exceeded their own, they didn’t appreciate it.

And while men had deal-breakers, women had their own sticking points. the study found that women were more enticed by men raised in well-off neighbourhoods while also more attracted to males of the same race. 

Lastly, and surprisingly, for men, meeting more girls didn’t impact whether they’d like to see someone again while women became pickier as they met more men. 

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