Contributed by: kellyseal on Tuesday, March 26 2013 @ 09:51 am
Last modified on
Do certain people have an advantage when it comes to online dating? Maybe so, but not for the reasons you think.
Match.com has recently revealed a comprehensive study of thousands of singles across the U.S., asking them some of the most pertinent relationship questions to see how they think about love.
When most singles sign up for an online dating site, we assume they are looking for the same thing: an enticing physical appearance. Pictures are what we look at first, and if we don't find someone attractive, we move on. But as it turns out, this isn't exactly true. There are specific physical attributes that we look for, and I'm not talking about someone's eyes, smile or even how voluptuous they are.
One of the most surprising findings to me was that, more than anything else, singles look for matches who have good teeth. While this is still a physical attribute, it is more specific than just general attractiveness. According to Dr. Helen Fisher, a renowned anthropologist reviewing the study's findings, good teeth are a sign of fertility. The more fertile you seem, the more attractive you are to the opposite sex. So a little extra flossing and brushing go a long way.
And the second must-have the majority of singles want from their online dates? Good grammar. Instead of speaking in text or sending emails with misspellings or run-on sentences, most daters want to feel like you put some effort into your communication, and that you present yourself well. Because this translates into how you will communicate in a relationship. So don't post a profile without doing a little proofing first.
Researchers for the study also asked participants about commitment, specifically how many of them were interested in pursuing long-term relationships or marriage. While we've heard many stories lately, even from The New York Times, about dating becoming a more casual affair, this is not the case. Ninety percent of singles said they could stay married forever, as opposed to just two years ago when 78% said they could. Especially men.
As it turns out, men are the romantic ones in relationships. The study found that men are more interested in commitment while women are more interested in maintaining their independence in a relationship. Men also fall harder and faster. On average, they have fallen in love 4.2 times during the course of their lives compared to women at 2.8 times. Also, 61% of men have experienced love at first sight, compared to 51% of women. According to this survey, romance is far from over.
Still feeling hopeless about love? You shouldn't be. Now people are more optimistic and motivated than ever, so what are you waiting for?