Science of the Sexual Attraction Factor
Welcome back!
What attracts people to each other, and importantly, what keeps them together? Opposites attract, but mutual interests also play a key factor in long-term relationships.
Photo Absolute oxoxox
Oftentimes the most successful relationships are those that have a healthy balance of Yin and Yang. Yin & Yang are mutually dependent — one can’t exist without the other.
A strong foundation for our relationships is important, so how does attraction play its role?
Dr. Limor Blockman reporting for Socyberty defines the factors …
Intellectual Attraction
Intellectual attraction oesn’t refer to knowledge or wisdom but to conceptual stimulation. Your ideal partner could be a person that can spend two hours discussing the Sopranos or someone that has an intriguing point of view about the Da Vinci code. Whatever it is, the attraction is originated in intellectual stimulation.
Physical Attraction
Physical attraction is the most direct of all. Beyond the basics, attractive looks can be a slim or curvy body, blond or brunette hair, light or dark complexion etc. Physical attraction is influenced by our acquired tastes. We could find someone unattractive today, but might see them differently in a year.
Mental Attraction
Mental attraction begins with affection. You immediately feel a warm fuzzy feeling of connection to the person you’ve just met. The attraction could evolve into a romantic love or remain in friendship mode.
Spiritual Attraction
Being spiritually attracted to a person has nothing to do with your religious beliefs and everything to do with your awareness to your body, mind, and the world in general.
How do we find our special someone?
Photo Neloqua
Subconscious Factors
Men are universally attracted to young, fertile women, with nicely shaped pelvis & thighs, full lips and gentle facial features. Women prefer a fairly buff body, wide shoulders, clear complexion and a firm chin which indicate potency and good genes. Wealth and intelligence can also play a major role.
(There goes the theory that women prefer baby faced men over macho men.)
There’s no individual scientific formula for a life partner, but we look for one with similar levels of looks, intelligence, and financial social status etc.
Less Obvious Factors
A study performed at a university in Austin, TX determined that attraction is based on specific sets of genes called Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC).
MHC protects us from partners with similar MHC, as the ‘right’ partner will have a set very different than our own. The study revealed that we subconsciously choose partners with a suitable MHC, using our sense of smell.
If this is accurate, how and why do we choose the wrong partner, or fall head over heels over someone we’ve done the hot bump and grind with?
The scientific explanation is hormone replacement therapy, contraceptives,
or any external source of hormones that we consume which can alter our decisions to select the wrong partner.
The physical explanation is that the brain releases Oxytocin during intercourse that causes us to feel loved and fertile.
The long and windy road to fulfillment in a mate is overflowing with choices, and making the right ones will bring you to your final desired destination.
Related stories:
Baby Face vs Macho – Baby Face Wins
Science of the Muscle Man Factor
The Face – Not the Body – Attracts a Mate
Hi Deborah,
Managed to see some of the meteor showers in the early hours, was quite spectacular too.
The science of sexual attraction? OMG…I think I need a complete mental and physical makeover….quick hahaha
Came across an article on MHC several years ago, which was when they then started to try and emulate it with pheromones. Whether they work or not I have no idea, but it’s a money spinner for some!!
Where does humor fit in, mental or intellectual attraction? I think similar senses of humor is the biggest factor as I see it. And I certainly wouldn’t describe my sense of humor as intellectual.
Interesting factors Deborah…
I think a sense of humour and emotional intelligence are qualities that I find attractive as well….
You’re a lucky dawg Colin, I missed the spectacle. Don’t forget the Kiess meteor shower on September 1.
I think many of us have heard about pheromones, but I had never thought of it as trickery up to now. Not a whole lot of point using them if you’re attracting the wrong mate in the process.
DMI, you have a very valid point. A sense if humor is vital to relationships IMO, and it wasn’t really touched on or given any sense of importance from what the study and report revealed.
‘Emotional Intelligence’ … another valid point Kim. Again, an important factor that wasn’t touched on here.
Since I love Mr L soooo much he must have a h*ll of a smell!!! *giggles*
…and I must be very, very weird, because I don’t look at the outside much at all, it’s the personality that counts. No wealth for me – other than wealthy of LOVE
But intelligence – yes!!!!
I agree with the others about the humor factor, it’s one of the biggest for me.
And the ability to express themselves. Of course I want the man to be able to tell me with thousands of wonderful words how beautiful I am (in his eyes) and how much he love me… *giggles*
BTW: you’re introduced as one of our new Cyber Cruise member in my latest post
Once again: welcome to have fun with us!!!
Let the champagne flooooow….
Cheers
Well based on the average male, you’ll most likely have to settle for those 1000 words of love from his eyes only
Personality has to be the most valuable trait a mate has, which is a combination of all that’s been discussed here, including the comments.
Thanks Lifecruiser, heading right over
arted?
Not sure what you mean by your question Hoof.
I think its too week point… but when one get attracted nothing seems good then to what its attracted.
Many time I see the free law of attraction
tending to give such laws… and the most attracting mode is MONEY.
Do agree or not but its effect is seen in relations.
HIPHOP’s last blog post..Wass the FASHION? – A DREAM GIRL on it!
Actually money is an interesting at play here. I remember seeing a documentary where an average looking middle aged man chatted to two females in a restaurant before driving off in his average car. The women were asked to fill out a questionnaire on how attractive they considered him. Then they repeated the process but this time he drove off in a sports car worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. They repeated the expereiment with many different women and there was a unmistakable trend toward finding the ‘rich man’ more sexually attractive. Now genes relating to the ability to make money are likely to propagate, may be more so than other physical factors that traditionally make a mate seem attractive.
Good analysis. Thanks for sharing
I would like to add one important factor that creates attraction. Curiosity. Heightend the sense of curiosity, greater the attraction.
To heighted the sense of curiosity, one needs to be mystifying. Less revealing is better. You will notice that less of intellectual and physical revealation creates greater curiosity. It goes for both, women and men.
Try it out:)
Musten Jiruwala